Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a versatile tool used to detect common contaminants, lube degradation byproducts and additives within lubricating oils. It has become a widely used technique for quickly assessing multiple lubricant characteristics, and yet many people don’t fully understand how it works. When exposed to infrared radiation, molecules absorb radiation at very specific wavelengths. Knowing this, you can pass infrared radiation through a sample and use a detector on the other side of the sample to identify the molecules found in that sample.
