Iraffinity 1 fourier transform infrared spectrometer

KBr (200 mg) was added to the samples and KBr pellets were prepared for FT-IR analysis. The infrared spectrum of EPS (400–4000 cm⁻¹) was examined with an IR affinity-1 Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan).

The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed using a DTG-60 thermal analyzer system (Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan) at the heating rate of 10 °C min⁻¹ to 900 °C in a dried air atmosphere. The air flow rate was 30 mL min⁻¹. Samples were loaded in a platinum pan. The FTIR spectra (KBr Sigma, Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) were measured using a IRAFFINITY-1 Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (Shimadzu Corporation, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan). Samples were packed firmly to obtain transparent films. PXRD studies were performed using a D/MAX2550 diffractometer (Riguku Corporation, Akishima, Tokyo, Japan) using Cu-Ka radiation, 40 kV, 200 mA with a scanning rate of 0.3° min⁻¹ (2θ). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed on a JSM 6700 (JEOS Corporation, Akishima, Tokyo, Japan).

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra were obtained with an IRAffinity-1 Fourier transform infrared spectrometer from Shimadzu, coupled to an Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) MIRacle module with an ZnSe prism, manufactured by PIKE technologies, using 32 scans at a resolution of 4 cm⁻¹, from 4000 to 700 cm⁻¹.