FTIR: The Unsung Hero Behind Better Polymers

Every polymer product, from food-grade packaging to automotive interiors, depends on chemistry that works flawlessly. But how do we actually see what is happening inside those long polymer chains or complex additive blends? The answer, for decades now, has been Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, or FTIR.

It is not flashy, but FTIR quietly transformed the way we understand, control, and trust materials.

Plastic packaging is rarely just polymer. Tiny amounts of purposeful chemistry, additives, control everything from how long a film lasts on the shelf to whether a package can be recycled or composted. In the last decade, additive science has shifted from pure performance toward performance that supports circularity, longer shelf life, lighter weight, and safer recycling. This blog explains the major classes of modern additives, shows how they help sustainable packaging, and highlights tradeoffs and real-world constraints.