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VOL. 10, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Composition of polystyrene determined by IR spectroscopy
Authors
Ioana Stanciu
Abstract
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
is a fundamental analytical technique for characterizing the chemical structure
of polymers, including polystyrene. Spectroscopic analysis reveals the presence
of specific absorption bands, which confirm the existence of aromatic phenyl
units attached to the polymer chain. The characteristic spectrum of polystyrene
highlights the following main regions: 3100–3000 cm⁻¹ (aromatic C–H
stretching vibrations), 3000–2850 cm⁻¹ (aliphatic C–H
stretching vibrations), 1600–1490 cm⁻¹ (aromatic ring C=C
stretching bands), 1450–1370 cm⁻¹ (C–H bending
vibrations), 1025–1000 cm⁻¹ (in-plane C–H
vibrations) and 750–690 cm⁻¹ (monosubstituted
C–H out-of-plane deformation bands). These spectral signatures confirm the
chemical structure of polystyrene and allow its differentiation from other
styrene-based polymers or copolymers. At the same time, FTIR is a useful tool
not only for material identification, but also for monitoring degradation,
oxidation or chemical functionalization processes, providing relevant
information in the field of materials science and polymer recycling.
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Pages:1-3
How to cite this article:
Ioana Stanciu "Composition of polystyrene determined by IR spectroscopy". International Journal of Advanced Engineering and Technology, Vol 10, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 1-3
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