PerkinElmer UATR User manual

UNIVERSAL ATR SAMPLING ACCESSORY
User’s Guide
MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY

Release History
Part Number Release Publication Date
L1050231 C September 2017
Any comments about the documentation for this product should be addressed to:
User Assistance
PerkinElmer, Inc.
710 Bridgeport Avenue
Shelton, CT 06484
Notices
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
Except as specifically set forth in its terms and conditions of sale, PerkinElmer makes no warranty of
any kind with regard to this document, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
PerkinElmer shall not be liable for errors contained herein for incidental consequential damages in
connection with furnishing, performance or use of this material.
Copyright Information
This document contains proprietary information that is protected by copyright.
All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever or
translated into any language without the prior, written permission of PerkinElmer, Inc.
Copyright © 2017 PerkinElmer, Inc.
Trademarks
Registered names, trademarks, etc. used in this document, even when not specifically marked as such,
are protected by law.
PerkinElmer is a registered trademark of PerkinElmer, Inc.
Spectrum and Spectrum Two are trademarks of PerkinElmer, Inc.

Contents
Conventions Used in this Manual........................................................................ 4
Notes, Cautions and Warnings..................................................................... 4
Introduction...................................................................................................... 5
Unpacking the UATR ......................................................................................... 7
Installing the UATR ........................................................................................... 8
Fitting the accessory................................................................................... 8
Accessory detection by Spectrum software..................................................10
Taking a Reference Background spectrum...................................................10
Contamination Check........................................................................................11
Cleaning the crystal ...................................................................................11
Performing a Contamination Ready Check...................................................11
Performing Ready Checks that use Polystyrene ..................................................12
Handling Samples ............................................................................................13
Solid samples ............................................................................................13
Liquid samples ..........................................................................................13
Obtaining a Sample Spectrum with Spectrum Software.......................................14
Obtaining a spectrum of a solid sample, using the pressure arm...................14
Obtaining a spectrum of a liquid sample......................................................17
Maintenance ....................................................................................................19
Replacing the pressure arm o-ring ..............................................................19
Replacing the top-plate..............................................................................19

4 . Universal ATR Sampling Accessory User’s Guide
Conventions Used in this Manual
Normal text is used to provide information and instructions.
Bold text refers to text that is displayed on the screen.
UPPERCASE text, for example ENTER or ALT, refers to keys on the PC keyboard. '+' is
used to show that you have to press two keys at the same time, for example, ALT+F.
All eight digit numbers are PerkinElmer part numbers unless stated otherwise.
The term ‘instrument’ refers to a Spectrum Two Series spectrometer, and any sampling
accessory fitted.
Notes, Cautions and Warnings
Three terms, in the following standard formats, are also used to highlight special
circumstances and warnings.
NOTE: A note indicates additional, significant information that is provided with some
procedures.
CAUTION
ATTENTION
We use the term CAUTION to inform you about situations that could
result in
serious damage
to the instrument
or other equipment.
Details about these circumstances are in a box like this one.
Nous utilisons le terme «ATTENTION» pour vous informer des situations
pouvant entraîner des dommages sérieux à l'instrument ou à d'autres
équipements. Les détails sur ces circonstances se trouvent dans une boîte
comme celle-ci.
WARNING
AVERTISSEMENT
We use the term WARNING to inform you about situations that could
result in personal injury to yourself or other persons. Details about
these circumstances are in a box like this one.
Nous utilisons le terme AVERTISSEMENT pour vous informer des
situations pouvant entraîner des blessures personnelles pour vous-
même ou pour d'autres personnes. Les détails sur ces circonstances se
trouvent dans une boîte comme celle-ci

Universal ATR Sampling Accessory User’s Guide . 5
Introduction
The Universal Attenuated Total Reflectance Accessory (UATR) is an internal reflection
accessory, used with a Spectrum Two Series spectrometer, for simplifying the analysis of
solids, powders, pastes, gels and liquids. The technique is non-destructive.
As the beam does not penetrate deeply into the sample, this technique is ideal for analyzing
strong infrared absorbing solutions, such as emulsions or aqueous solutions. The technique
can also prove useful in measuring homogeneous solid samples, solid surfaces and coatings
on solid samples.
Figure 1 The Universal ATR Sampling Accessory

6 . Universal ATR Sampling Accessory User’s Guide
How the UATR works
The technique involves placing a sample on top of a crystal with a high refractive index. An
infrared beam from the instrument is passed into the accessory and up into the crystal. It is
then reflected internally in the crystal, and back towards the detector which is housed in the
instrument. When the beam is reflected within the crystal, it penetrates into the sample by a
few microns. Figure 2 illustrates this process.
Figure 2 Principle of UATR operation
The UATR can be used to analyze homogenous solid samples, solid surfaces, or coatings on
solid samples. Force may be applied to ensure good contact.
The Spectrum Two UATR uses a diamond crystal. The diamond crystal is hard, is not easily
scratched, is resistant to strong acids and bases, and can withstand high pressures. The
diamond UATR has an effective scanning range that matches the full range of the
instrument, although sensitivity is somewhat reduced in the approximate range 1900–
2700 cm−1.

Universal ATR Sampling Accessory User’s Guide . 7
Unpacking the UATR
As soon as you receive your UATR Accessory, make sure that it includes the parts listed
below. If anything is missing or damaged, contact your local PerkinElmer office.
The UATR Accessory itself is shipped fully assembled and ready to install.
Part Number Description Quantity
UATR Accessory 1
L1600239 Test Sample Holder 1
L1601742 Medium Shoe 1
L1601743 Large Shoe 1
L1601746 Volatiles Cup 1
L1601856 Apron 1
L1601857 Transit Shoe 1
L1601862 Transit Friction Pad 1
L1050242 Spectrum Two Manuals CD 1
L1100667 UATR Accessory Shipping Disk 1
The Shipping Disk contains reference spectra for your accessory which can be used to check
if its performance has changed.

8 . Universal ATR Sampling Accessory User’s Guide
Installing the UATR
Fitting the accessory
The UATR fits into the sample compartment of the spectrometer, replacing the sample plate.
NOTE: Before you begin you should, if necessary, loosen the pressure arm and release the
transit block that secures the UATR pressure arm during transport.
You may also need to remove the covers on the left and right sides of the accessory,
and the top-plate dust cover.
Store all these in a safe place for future use, if required.
To remove the sample plate and install the UATR:
1. Raise the sample cover of the spectrometer to the vertical position and lift it upwards,
clear of the instrument.
Store it in a safe place for future re-use.
2. Slide the sample plate out of the sample area (Figure 3).
Store it in a safe place for future re-use.
Figure 3 Removing the basic sample plate

Universal ATR Sampling Accessory User’s Guide . 9
3. Pivot the UATR on the ledge at the front of the sample area (Figure 4a), then tip it
backwards (Figure 4b).
NOTE: If the accessory is pivoted too far forward on the sample area ledge it will not move
correctly into position.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4 Installing the accessory
4. Push the UATR home firmly, ensuring that the top of the accessory mates properly with
the lid of the instrument (Figure 5).
The UATR is now ready for use.
Figure 5 UATR installed in a Spectrum Two

10 . Universal ATR Sampling Accessory User’s Guide
NOTE: When the UATR is installed, a connection is made between the accessory and the
purge system used in the instrument. To purge the accessory, connect to the white
plastic purge connector on the underside of the instrument, at the right.
Accessory detection by Spectrum software
The Spectrum software detects the presence of the accessory automatically, and the Setup
Instrument Basic (Figure 6) and Setup Instrument BeamPath (Figure 7) tabs are updated to
show details of the UATR accessory.
Figure 6 Setup Instrument Basic tab with UATR details circled
Figure 7 Setup Instrument BeamPath tab with UATR icon circled
Taking a Reference Background spectrum
Once you have installed your UATR, and before you use it for the first time, you should
consider taking a background spectrum which will act as a reference background for use with
those Ready Checks that need one for comparison purposes, including the
Contamination
Check
described on page 11.
NOTE: For information about taking a background spectrum, see the Spectrum on-screen
Help.