Over-all view of Perkin-Elmer laboratory. Tables in foreground are used as work surfaces for sample preparation, changing prisms, checking spectra
LABORATORY OF THE MONTH Infrared spectra of single fibers and crystals can be run with aid of hood on infrared microscope being adjusted by Vincent J. Coates
Infrared microscope for fiber and crystal studies, and beneath it, a 10meter gas cell for making analyses of trace components. Martha Lester is the operator
V O L U M E 2 6, N O . 6, J U N E
1954
• Laboratory setup enables evaluate use of infrared
prospective user to instrumentation
I
N THIS ERA of new instruments and methods, instrument manufacturers are finding that the customer must be shown the value of expensive equipment before he buys. Before a company or research laboratory is willing to invest a sizable sum of money in new instruments, it wants to be convinced that the instrument will prove a real asset to its analytical or quality control laboratory. About two years ago, Perkin-Elmer Corp. set up a complete infrared laboratory to demonstrate to prospective customers how infrared instrumentation could be used to solve their particular problems. Since virtually every prospect for an infrared spectrometer is found to have some specific problem in mind for the instrument, it is the primary purpose of the laboratory to investigate the application of infrared analysis to prospective customer problems. Occasionally there are requests for flame photometer or electrophoretic analyses. Considerable time is also spent in developing new infrared analytical techniques and instruments, investigating improvements in existing instruments or accessories, and preparing data for papers delivered at technical meetings by PerkinElmer staff members. At latest count, the laboratory submitted over 600 problem analysis reports last year. These run the gamut of practically all industries concerned with organics—food and drugs, through plastics, paints, explosives, and petroleum. About 60% of the analyses are conducted on solids, 3 5 % on liquids, and 5% on gases. Over 2 5 % of the requests are for quantitative analyses. (Continued on page 3 5 A)
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LABORATORY OF THE MONTH Harry Hausdorff (left), director of the laboratory, explains the intricacies of a spécifie analysis to visiting chemist
Recent advance in infrared solids analysis is the potassium bromide press. Helens Sternglanz pours a mixture of sample and potassium bromide into the die, which is subsequently evacuated and pressed to form an infrared-transparent pellet
Equipment includes a small oven for drying specimens, a balance,, and an exhaust hood. In the foreground is a glass-topped table for viewing and matching spectra
Pure compounds, solvents, and samples are stored in the cabinet to the left. Crystal prisms for different regions of the infrared spectrum are in the center cabinet. To the right is a file of reference spectra including over 5 0 0 0 spectra run off in the laboratory and 2 0 0 0 API spectra
VOLUME
2 6, N O . 6, J U N E
1954
35 A
