Chapter 21
Applications of NIR Techniques
in Polymer Coatings and Synthetic
Textiles
Tom Scherzer
Abstract This chapter provides a survey on the current state of the art of in-line analysis by various NIR techniques for process control of two very specialized categories
of polymer materials: polymer coatings and textiles from synthetic fibers. In case of
coatings, monitoring of the conversion of radiation-curable monomers such as acrylates, methacrylates, cycloaliphatic epoxies and vinyl ethers that is achieved during
irradiation is primarily discussed, since the conversion strongly determines application and processing properties of such coatings. Moreover, in-line measurement of
the coating thickness (from only a few up to several hundreds of micrometers), the
spatial distribution of various parameters of interest across the coatings as well as
the characterization of thin printed layers in the printing press are further subjects of
the first part. The second part deals with the application of NIR methods for process
monitoring and quality control in textile converting. Technical textiles are often
subject of special treatment and finishing steps such as impregnation, coating, lamination etc. which have to be controlled in order to ensure adequate processing. NIR
techniques have been shown to be an appropriate tool for this problem. In particular,
hyperspectral imaging can help to retain the required homogeneity of textile webs
or laminates after finishing, e.g., with respect to the application weight of functional
finishes or adhesive layers. Furthermore, NIR spectroscopy is used for identification
and sorting of textiles with the objective of recycling of the materials. Hence, an
overview of the current status of the use of NIR spectroscopic techniques in textile
technology is given.
Keywords NIR spectroscopy · Hyperspectral imaging · Monitoring of UV curing
reactions · Characterization of coatings · Textiles · Process control
T. Scherzer (B)
Department of Functional Coatings, Leibniz-Institut für Oberflächenmodifizierung e.V. (IOM),
Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
e-mail: tom.scherzer@iom-leipzig.de
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Ozaki et al. (eds.), Near-Infrared Spectroscopy,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8648-4_21
475
Applications of NIR Techniques
in Polymer Coatings and Synthetic
Textiles
Tom Scherzer
Abstract This chapter provides a survey on the current state of the art of in-line analysis by various NIR techniques for process control of two very specialized categories
of polymer materials: polymer coatings and textiles from synthetic fibers. In case of
coatings, monitoring of the conversion of radiation-curable monomers such as acrylates, methacrylates, cycloaliphatic epoxies and vinyl ethers that is achieved during
irradiation is primarily discussed, since the conversion strongly determines application and processing properties of such coatings. Moreover, in-line measurement of
the coating thickness (from only a few up to several hundreds of micrometers), the
spatial distribution of various parameters of interest across the coatings as well as
the characterization of thin printed layers in the printing press are further subjects of
the first part. The second part deals with the application of NIR methods for process
monitoring and quality control in textile converting. Technical textiles are often
subject of special treatment and finishing steps such as impregnation, coating, lamination etc. which have to be controlled in order to ensure adequate processing. NIR
techniques have been shown to be an appropriate tool for this problem. In particular,
hyperspectral imaging can help to retain the required homogeneity of textile webs
or laminates after finishing, e.g., with respect to the application weight of functional
finishes or adhesive layers. Furthermore, NIR spectroscopy is used for identification
and sorting of textiles with the objective of recycling of the materials. Hence, an
overview of the current status of the use of NIR spectroscopic techniques in textile
technology is given.
Keywords NIR spectroscopy · Hyperspectral imaging · Monitoring of UV curing
reactions · Characterization of coatings · Textiles · Process control
T. Scherzer (B)
Department of Functional Coatings, Leibniz-Institut für Oberflächenmodifizierung e.V. (IOM),
Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
e-mail: tom.scherzer@iom-leipzig.de
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Ozaki et al. (eds.), Near-Infrared Spectroscopy,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8648-4_21
475