The mission of Cabot's Analytical Laboratory team is to generate business critical information and knowledge about our own products and processes. We do this by providing responsive and competent analytical and physical chemistry solutions, problem solving, methods development, and consultation services.

Our team applies expertise in microscopy, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, inorganic and organic analysis, polymer analysis, and particle characterization including catalyst characterization, to solve problems in support of Cabot's products, processes and customers.

In addition to serving the Cabot businesses, both new and established, we also offer selected services to customers outside Cabot who come to us from a variety of industries, including automotive, construction, plastics, electronics and pharmaceuticals. Some of these selected analytical services are provided in this web page.

 

Instruments and Skills

Our analytical scientists, equipped with state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation, have developed numerous methods to support new product and process development, provided forensic analysis to our manufacturing units and solved customers' problems.

For years, we've solved technical problems and developed unique skills in the analytical characterization of particles. Of particular interest are our capabilities in the areas of wettability of particles (surface energy), microscopy including microchemical analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, thermal analysis and mass spectrometry.

 

Wettability of Particles

Fine powders are typically used to impart certain properties to customer formulations. The behavior of powders (particles) in formulations often depends on their wettability or surface energy. Measuring the wettability of particles (e.g. contact angle, hydrophobicity or surface energy) is very challenging, particularly for fine particles or nanoparticles. Conventional contact angle measurements do not work on particles at these small sizes. Cabot has developed methodologies that enable accurate measurement of the wettability or surface energy of particles.

 

Microscopy

Optical and Electron Microscopy are widely used in supporting product development, for the identification or characterization of particles and forensic analysis of products consisting of particles or composites.

We are equipped with many state-of-the-art microscopic methods, instruments and quantitative image analysis that enable morphological analysis, chemical composition, forensic analysis of particles, degree of crystallinity and phase composition analysis of materials and particles.

• Optical microscopy with transmitted and reflected view darkfield modes and polarized light microscopy/dispersion staining and other microchemical analysis.
• Confocal Raman microspectroscopy for individual particle searching and identification at less than 1 um fills a niche in molecular recognition, micro FTIR-ATR spectroscopy is also available.
• SEM/EDS is used for quickly troubleshooting particle problems, determining size, composition and quality, with imaging resolution <10 nm. Elements from B through U can be detected.
• TEM/EDS provides the most intimate look at particles, combining high resolution (0.2 nm) imaging and analytical capability, with phase analysis for crystalline samples.
• Our experienced microscopists are knowledgeable about preparation techniques for dispersing particles/powders and ultramicrotomy to slice thin sections of many material types.

 

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry

Our capabilities include solution and solid state NMR. These capabilities find utility in many areas, some of which include:

• Molecular structure, conformation, size, concentration, dynamics and kinetics
• Polymer composition, sequencing, end group analysis and dynamics
• Particle functional group structure, distribution and dynamics
• Particle bulk composition, structure, crystallinity and domain size
• Characterization and problem solving in surface modification, nanoparticles, catalysis, polymers and pigments

 

Thermal Analysis

Our capabilities in Thermal Analysis consist of TGA and DSC.

• Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) - measures weight changes due to decomposition, oxidation or dehydration as a function of temperature (or time) under a controlled atmosphere. Our laboratory has several TGAs: a high resolution instrument for very precise analysis; several instruments equipped with EGA furnaces for accurate analysis of easily oxidize materials; and a horizontal TGA for analysis of materials producing hazardous fumes during decomposition.
• Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) – a technique that measures temperature and heat flow associated with thermal transitions in a material. DSC provides quantitative and qualitative data on endothermic and exothermic transitions, which are caused by phase changes, melting, oxidation and other heat-related transitions.

 

Mass Spectrometry

Direct Insertion Probe MS is used to determine mass spectra of samples that cannot be readily analyzed by GCMS or LCMS. Liquids or solids are sampled onto a filament probe for rapid heating to high temperature, or into a dish probe for more controlled heating, and the probe is then inserted directly into the mass spectrometer. The MS can be easily switched between CI and EI modes.

Headspace GCMS, GC-CI-MS, LCMS, and Direct Infusion LCMS are also available.