The potential of the infrared spectroscopy with the attenuated total reflection technique (FTIR-ATR) was evaluated to monitor degradation of polyamide 11, PA-11, applied in flexible pipes. The samples were subjected to aging on reactors with controlled pressure and atmosphere. The samples were immersed in deionized water, pH 7, at temperatures of 110, 120 and 140 ºC over a period of up to 50 days. The typical technique recommended for monitoring PA-11 degradation is viscometry from inherent viscosity corrected (VIC) and thermogravimetric (TGA) measurements. TGA and VIC results allowed the use of chemometric models that can be related to FTIR-ATR spectra, with assignment of a band to the amorphous phase (1161 cm-1) of PA-11. The chemometric model generated from PLS data was satisfactory in predicting the aging of PA-11. Therefore, FTIR-ATR can be used as a new analytical methodology to monitor PA-11 degradation, thus eliminating the use of toxic organic solvents and reducing the time required for the analysis.
Polyamide 11; PA-11; degradation; infrared spectroscopy; FTIR-ATR
