Discrimination of Poly(butylenes adipate-co-terephthalate) and Poly(ethylene terephthalate) with Fourier Transform Infrared Microscope and Raman Spectroscope

The analysis of plastics and fibers is of importance to forensic scientists, especially in the investigation of trace evidence. In this study, we use Fourier transform infrared microscope and confocal Raman spectroscope to investigate two kinds of polymers: poly(butylenes adipate-co-terephthalate) and poly(ethylene terephthalate), which are very similar in structure and cannot be discriminated easily with other instruments. Infrared and Raman spectra were tentatively interpreted. The indicative peaks (937 cm−1, 1121 cm−1 in Infrared spectra; 996 cm−1, 1396 cm−1 in Raman spectra) to distinguish the two polymers were also summarized. The data in this study can help forensic scientists identify these two polymers accurately and avoid wrong certificate of authenticity. The data also offer the producer and researchers an effective and fast method to characterize and identify the poly(butylenes adipate-co-terephthalate).