| abstract |
A method and apparatus are disclosed for the rapid estimation the macroscopic physical properties of a coating applied to an article such as, for example, a container for food, beverages, or the like. The invention is usable with macroscopic physical properties including permeation rate, thickness of the coating, and others. According to the invention, a prediction model is prepared based on correlations between an infrared absorption spectrum and corresponding measured values of the macroscopic physical property. Thenceforth, the macroscopic physical property does not need to be measured directly, but rather is estimated based on the prediction model with a measured infrared absorption spectrum as an input thereto. A significant savings of time may thereby be realized, since the infrared absorption spectrum is more easily and quickly obtained than direct, actual measurement of many macroscopic physical properties of interest. The rapid and accurate measurement of permeation rate utilizing spectroscopic analysis is a principal application of the invention. |