As applications for rubbers and plastics become ever more demanding the combinations of materials and additives used become correspondingly complicated. The task of the analyst in identifying the constituents of a specific product has become increasingly difficult, and this is only part of the equation, analytical techniques are also used to measure exposure to fumes and solvents, to measure potentially hazardous discharges from polymer processing and to measure unwelcome migration of additives from polymer products. Such techniques may also be used in quality control situations.

This Rapra Review Report describes, with the aid of schematic diagrams and sample outputs, the major analytical techniques used to identify organic and inorganic materials, methods for studying surfaces, and thermal analytical procedures. Various examples of the application of analytical methods to specific materials and products are described, and many more can be obtained from the 485 references and abstracts from the Polymer Library, which supplement the review.