Run the Affirma calibration check
After you complete the background measurement, run the calibration check on the Pike HATR accessory to verify sample pathlength.
Materials required:
- FT-IR Squalane Liquid Calibration Kit (includes high purity squalane and dropper bottle)
- Clean, non-abrasive laboratory wipes (unscented and lotion-free; paper napkins work well)
- Powder-free nitrile gloves
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Avoid chemical exposure. Squalane is a chemical irritant. When handling squalane:
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Use only high grade (>95%) squalane. Do not sample squalane directly from its original container. Pour it into another clean, labeled container for routine use.
To run the calibration check
- Make sure the Pike HATR accessory (sampling plate and baseplate) is installed in the spectrometer sample compartment.
- Make sure the ATR crystal is clean and dry. See Clean the ATR crystal.
- Make sure the appropriate Background workflow has been performed. See Perform a background measurement. If a message indicates that a new background measurement is needed, follow the instructions in that section and restart the calibration workflow.
- In OMNIC Paradigm software Operator mode, select the HATR Setup category and then select the Calibrate Cell HATR workflow.
Figure 1-1: Calibrate Cell HATR workflow
The workflow shows its historical results, if any exist.
- Follow on-screen prompts to continue.
- When the workflow asks you to load squalane, add just enough high grade squalane to cover the ATR crystal completely.
Figure 1-2: HATR accessory, adding squalane
- Click to start the measurement.
Do not touch the spectrometer until all measurements are completed.
When the measurements are completed, the report is displayed.
If all the results are within the specified limit(s), click to continue.
- Clean the ATR crystal and click to complete the workflow. See Clean the ATR crystal.
If one or more calibration test results are outside the specified limit(s), rerun the calibration test. If the system fails again, contact us.
The system is now ready for you to perform a sample analysis. Before you do that, review the remaining sections in this document which describe the software, explain the safety and operating precautions, and provide tips for running samples as well as cleaning and maintaining the system.