We report FTIR-ATR spectra of a polymer laminate (PMMA/PVOH) at different base layer thicknesses and different angles of incidence on a ZnSe substrate. By varying this ’barrier’ layer (of PMMA) we have demonstrated that different effective penetration depths into the PVOH are achieved, in very good agreement with the calculated electric fields as a function of distance away from the substrate surface. Such work forms the basis for depth profiling measurements in order to detect interfacial interactions between the polymer molecules.