FTIR spectrometry (Fourier Transform Infrared) is an instrumental technique of analysis that presents
significant advantages on the dispersive traditional system, such as the increase of the relation signalnoise,
the capacity of getting absorption spectra of low energy and therefore, bands of absorption of weak
intensity. This technique is widely used in study, resin characterization and evaluation of polymeric
materials as well as of its degradation when exposed to the most varied conditions of service, or still in
the analysis and diagnosis of defects that occur during the application or production process. Techniques
connected to the FTIR had more recently appeared as the photoacoustic (PAS-FTIR), the microscopy
(MCT-FTIR) and the attenuated total reflectance (ATR), which allow to analyze weekly transparent and
dark samples without removal of coatings from the substrates. The choice of the technique to use depends
on the morphology of the surfaces to analyze and the type of failure in cause (lack of adhesion,
contamination, aging degradation, etc). In this work the application of FTIR and techniques associates to
the identification of the causes that had originated diverse types of defect in applied organic coatings on
polymeric materials is presented. Key words: FTIR, Organic Coatings, Failure Diagnosi
