Comparative Analysis

Direct comparison of material composition and properties is often done in a failure analysis investigation, competitor product analysis, or patent infringement investigations. Comparative analysis can be used to identify the cause of different behaviors of product performance or processing.

Frequent uses of comparative analysis include quality control, quality assurance, and quality investigation purposes. Comparative analysis is also used when qualifying an alternate supplier of a critical raw material. Comparative analysis relates to all of the analytical techniques Polymer Solutions Incorporated has at its disposal. PSI personnel are experienced at identifying the best techniques to solve our client’s problems.

Above: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) graph of coatings from Company A and Company B

Work We've Done

Stolen Formulations

A former employee of Company A was discharged, started his own company (Company B), and began producing a specialty coating. Company A, however, suspected that the employee had actually stolen the proprietary formula for this coating. Polymer Solutions Incorporated (PSI) was asked to analyze this coating from Company A and the corresponding coating from Company B to objectively document their similarities and differences.

After extensive analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Capillary gas chromatography (GC), PSI determined that the likelihood of the formula being identical was very high. The corresponding coatings from the two companies showed virtually no difference. The chances of this occurring by coincidence were astronomical.

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