A Guide to the Worlds Most Sensitive and Versatile IR Sampling System

The Golden Gate^TM FT-IR ATR accessory sets a global benchmark in infrared analysis, being the most sensitive and flexible IR analysis system available.

The superior performance of the Golden Gate^TM is the result of using a highly sensitive type IIa diamond as the ATR surface, which also provides a high level of stability (chemical and physical) at a high pressure to provide the best optical contact. This surface is high temperature bonded to amount of tungsten carbide, allowing the system to function at high pressures.

The Golden Gate^TM is also highly versatile, being able to measure all kinds of samples from hard solids, single particles, fibers and wires, and corrosive liquids. The large sample area also means the Golden Gate^TM can be used for macro sampling.

The diamond containing top plate of the Golden Gate^TM ATR system sits upon a removable optical unit which contains the required mirrors for beam transmission and either KRS-5 or ZnSe condensing optics. The removable nature of the optical unit means it can be used with different top plates.

The Golden Gate^TM can be used with any left to right beam system due to its symmetrical set up. A schematic of the beam path can be seen in the diagram below.

Designing and Building the Golden Gate^TM

Specac’s team of mechanical and optical engineers designed and built the Golden Gate^TM in their own purpose-built facility using modern 3D CAD systems.

Specac’s knowledge of IR optics, electrical and mechanical design, and precision manufacturing, has allowed them to build the most innovative and best-performing ATR solution available, at a cost-effective price.

The Versatility of the Golden Gate^TM

The Golden Gate^TM ATR Mk II is the standard offering with a diamond ATR surface to give accurate and sensitive results, without the impact of chemical degradation over the system’s lifetime.

The Golden Gate^TM ATR Mk II can operate over a huge range of conditions, from near liquid nitrogen (below freezing) temperatures to 300 °C, and from ambient pressure to the extreme pressure of 6000 psi.

The Golden Gate^TM ATR Mk II’s standard top plate can be switched for something more specific depending on your research needs:

• Low Temperature Top Plate – Facilitates the IR analysis of liquids and solids from temperatures nearly as low as liquid nitrogen, to room temperature

• Heated Top Plate – Facilitates high temperature IR analysis, from room temperature to 200 °C

• Super Critical Top Plate – Facilitates high temperature and high pressure IR analysis in a low volume, up to 300 °C and 6000 psi. Ideal for the analysis of polymers and supercritical fluids

• Reaction Cell Top Plate – Facilitates IR analysis over the course of a reaction. Can reach high temperatures and high pressures (of up to 3000 psi) with an integrated stirring (optional) for efficient mixing

• Specular Reflectance Top Plate – Facilitates reflectance IR experiments at a research grade level

• Germanium Top Plate – Facilitates IR analysis of heavily IR absorbing samples such as carbon black

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Specac.

For more information on this source, please visit Specac.