Method and apparatus for analyzing samples using nuclear magnetic resonance

A magnetic resonance analyzing apparatus comprising:

• a sampling region which holds a sample;
• first temperature stabilization means for maintaining said sampling region at a predetermined temperature;
• base field applying means for applying a base magnetic field to the sampling region to effect precession of nuclei of said sample;
• pulse applying means for applying at least one excitation pulse to the sampling region to modify said precession;
• means for detecting and analyzing a signal emitted from said sample as a result of said at least one excitation pulse;
• and
• second temperature stabilization means for controlling the temperature of said sample to said predetermined temperature prior to said sample entering said sampling region.

A magnetic resonance analyzing apparatus comprising:

• a sampling region which holds a sample;
• first temperature stabilization means for maintaining said sampling region at a predetermined temperature;
• base field applying means for applying a base magnetic field to the sampling region to effect precession of nuclei of said sample;
• pulse applying means for:
• applying a first excitation pulse having a first phase to the sampling region at a first time, to modify said precession, and
• applying a second excitation pulse having a second phase offset from said first phase by 90.degree., to the sampling region at a subsequent second time corresponding substantially to an end of a first time period during which an output signal emitted from said sample as a result of said first excitation pulse can not be detected, in order to further modify said precession;
• detecting means for detecting said output signal emitted from said sample as a result of said first and second excitation pulses;
• analyzing means for:
• forming a free induction decay curve from said output signal, starting from a subsequent third time corresponding substantially to an end of a second time period during which an output signal emitted from said sample as a result of said second excitation pulse can not be detected,
• separating said free induction decay curve into a Gaussian curve corresponding substantially only to crystallinity content of said sample, an exponential curve corresponding substantially only to amorphous content of said sample, and an intermediate curve corresponding to a combination of said crystallinity and amorphous contents of said sample, and
• determining a characteristic of said sample in correspondence with y-axis intercepts of at least one of said Gaussian curve, said exponential curve and said free induction decay curve;
• and
• second temperature stabilization means for controlling the temperature of said sample to said predetermined temperature prior to said sample entering said sampling region.

A method for analyzing a sample using magnetic resonance, said method comprising the steps of:

• holding the sample in a sampling region;
• applying a base magnetic field to the sampling region to effect precession of nuclei of said sample;
• applying a first excitation pulse having a first phase to the sampling region at a first time, to modify said precession;
• applying a second excitation pulse having a second phase offset from said first phase by 90.degree., to the sampling region at a subsequent second time corresponding substantially to an end of a first time period during which an output signal emitted from said sample as a result of said first excitation pulse can not be detected, in order to further modify said precession;
• detecting said output signal emitted from said sample as a result of said first and second excitation pulses;
• forming a free induction decay curve from said output signal, starting from a subsequent third time corresponding substantially to an end of a second time period during which an output signal emitted from said sample as a result of said second excitation pulse can not be detected;
• separating said free induction decay curve into a Gaussian curve corresponding substantially only to crystallinity content of said sample, an exponential curve corresponding substantially only to amorphous content of said sample, and an intermediate curve corresponding to a combination of said crystallinity and amorphous contents of said sample;
• and
• determining a characteristic of said sample in correspondence with y-axis intercepts of at least one of said Gaussian curve, said exponential curve, said intermediate curve and said free induction decay curve.

A method for analyzing a sample using magnetic resonance, said method comprising the steps of:

• holding the sample in a sampling region;
• maintaining said sampling region at a predetermined temperature;
• applying a base magnetic field to the sampling region to effect precession of nuclei of said sample;
• applying at least one excitation pulse to the sampling region to modify said precession;
• detecting and analyzing a signal emitted from said sample as a result of said at least one excitation pulse;
• and
• controlling the temperature of said sample to said predetermined temperature prior to said sample entering said sampling region.

A magnetic resonance analyzing apparatus comprising:

• a sampling region which holds a sample;
• first temperature stabilization means for maintaining said sampling region at a predetermined temperature;
• base field applying means for applying a base magnetic field to the sampling region to effect precession of nuclei of said sample;
• pulse applying means for applying at least one excitation pulse to the sampling region to modify said precession;
• detecting means for detecting an output signal emitted from said sample as a result of said at least one excitation pulse;
• and
• analyzing means for:
• forming a free induction decay curve from said output signal,
• separating said free induction decay curve into a Gaussian curve corresponding substantially only to crystallinity content of said sample, an exponential curve corresponding substantially only to amorphous content of said sample, and an intermediate curve corresponding to a combination of said crystallinity and amorphous contents of said sample, and
• determining an amount of xylene solubles in said sample in correspondence with a sum of a y-axis intercept of said Gaussian curve and a y-axis intercept of said intermediate curve, over a y-axis intercept of said free induction decay curve.

A method for analyzing a sample using magnetic resonance, said method comprising the steps of:

• holding the sample in a sampling region;
• applying a base magnetic field to the sampling region to effect precession of nuclei of said sample;
• applying at least one excitation pulse to the sampling region to modify said precession;
• detecting an output signal emitted from said sample as a result of said at least one excitation pulse;
• forming a free induction decay curve from said output signal;
• separating said free induction decay curve into a Gaussian curve corresponding substantially only to crystallinity content of said sample, an exponential curve corresponding substantially only to amorphous content of said sample, and an intermediate curve corresponding to a combination of said crystallinity and amorphous contents of said sample;
• and
• determining an amount of xylene solubles in said sample in correspondence with a sum of a y-axis intercept of said Gaussian curve and a y-axis intercept of said intermediate curve, over a y-axis intercept of said free induction decay curve.