The Wilks Enterprise InfraCal IR Platform analyser, model HATR-T2, permits the use and measurement of solvents that contain hydrocarbons
For applications involving such items as gas regulators, space shuttle components, weaponry parts or oxygen sensors, it is critical that metal parts must be free of hydrocarbon (oil/grease) contamination before use.
To ensure cleaning efficiency, the metal part is soaked in a known volume of a solvent such as S-316, Hexane or Vertrel MCA and the solvent is then tested for its hydrocarbon content using a suitable portable Wilks Enterprise InfraCal TOG/TPH analyser.
When using an infrared transparent solvent such as S-316 that does not contain hydrocarbons, the solvent can be placed directly into a 10mm quartz cuvette cell and inserted into the cuvette holder of the InfraCal TOG/TPH analyser, Model CVH.
The resulting absorbance at 3.4 micrometers correlates directly to the amount of hydrocarbon present in the sample.
This makes for a quick and easy analysis; however, the Model CVH is only usable with infrared transparent solvents.
If solvents such as Hexane or Vertrel MCA which contain hydrocarbons are used for cleaning, their hydrocarbon content will interfere with the infrared measurement using a 10mm quartz cuvette cell and analysis by traditional transmission infrared techniques.
The sample is placed on the analyser's horizontal ATR crystal and the heat from the infrared source quickly evaporates off the solvent in three to five minutes.
The residual hydrocarbon film left on the crystal is measured by internal reflection techniques.
This method is as quick and simple as the transmission method.
