A review of recent trends in polymer characterization using non-destructive vibrational spectroscopic modalities and chemical imaging

•Traditional methods of polymer characterization with emphasis on advantages of vibrational spectroscopic methods highlighted.•Chemical Imaging & data processing for spatial imaging introduced briefly.•Applications of chemical imaging for polymer coatings, compositional studies, crystallinity, phase homogeneity/heterogeneity.•The future of chemical imaging with regards to polymer characterization is discussed.

This review focuses on the recent developments in vibrational spectroscopy and chemical imaging (i.e. Raman, Near Infrared, Mid Infrared) to characterize polymers in diverse forms, their behaviour and transient phenomenon. First, important polymeric properties and traditional methods of their characterization are outlined. Then relative advantages & disadvantages have been presented of different characterization methods are presented. This is followed by a detailed review of applications of chemical imaging and spectroscopic techniques in polymer characterization, including the limitations encountered. The article ends with a discussion on the future of chemical imaging with regards to polymer characterization.

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