Equipment Descriptions
Jump To: Contact Angle Goniometer | DLS: Nanobrook Omni | DMA: TAI Q800 | DSC: TAI Q2000 | Ellipsometer: UVISEL | RT-GPC: Tosoh EcoSEC | HT-GPC: Tosoh EcoSEC | HT-TGA/DSC: SDT650 | LB Trough: KN2002 | Mechanical Testing: Instron 5565 | Microscope: Nikon | Oxygen Plasma Cleaner: Diener Pico | Particle Analysis: NovaTouch | Particle Analysis: Autosorb iQ3 | Particle Analysis: Poremaster 33 | Profilometer: Dektak | Rheometer: TAI ARES | Rheometer-DMA | Rheosense | Spectroscopy: UV/Vis/NIR | Spectroscopy: Fluorimeter | Spectroscopy: FT/IR | TGA: TAI Q500 | SPM: Bruker Dimension Icon | SPM: Bruker Dimension IconIR
Contact Angle Goniometer: Rame-Hart 290
Contact angle is often used to measure cleanliness, roughness, absorption, surface heterogeneity, among other properties. The contact angle is the angle formed when a drop of liquid meets a solid surface. It is used to characterize the wetting properties of surfaces, by using the Young equation. The Model 290 features the standard 3-axis stage, an Automated Tilting Base and Automated Dispensing System.
DLS: Brookhaven Instrument Nanobrook
Omni
Dynamic Light Scattering (also known as Photon Correlation Spectroscopy or Quasi-Elastic Light Scattering) is a technique to determine the size distribution profile of small particles in suspension or polymers in solution. It can also be used to probe the behavior of complex fluids such as concentrated polymer solutions. The NanoBrook Omni particle size and zeta potential analyzer enables fast, routine, sub-micron measurements of size and zeta potential. The instrument also includes Phase Analysis Light Scattering (PALS) measurements for samples with low mobilities.
DMA: TA Instrument Q800
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is a testing technique and related analytical instrument that measures the physical properties of solids and polymer melts, reports modulus and damping, and is programmable to measure force, stress, strain, frequency and temperature. Our instrument is a TA Q800 DMA with gas cooling and fiber/film tension kit accessories.
DSC: TA Instrument Q2500
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a thermoanalytical technique in which the difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a sample and reference is measured as a function of temperature. Both the sample and reference are maintained at nearly the same temperature throughout the experiment. Generally, the temperature program for a DSC analysis is designed such that the sample holder temperature increases linearly as a function of time. The reference sample should have a well-defined heat capacity over the range of temperatures to be scanned. Differential scanning calorimetry can be used to measure a number of characteristic properties of a sample. Using this technique, it is possible to observe fusion and crystallization events as well as glass transition temperatures (Tg). DSC can also be used to study oxidation, as well as other chemical reactions.
Ellipsometer: Horiba UVISEL
Ellipsometry is a versatile and powerful optical technique for the investigation of the dielectric properties (complex refractive index or dielectric function) of thin films. It has applications in many different fields, from semiconductor physics to microelectronics and biology, from basic research to industrial applications. Ellipsometry is a very sensitive measurement technique and provides unequalled capabilities for thin film metrology. As an optical technique, spectroscopic ellipsometry is non-destructive and contactless. Upon the analysis of the change of polarization of light, which is reflected off a sample, ellipsometry can yield information about layers that are thinner than the wavelength of the probing light itself, even down to a single atomic layer. Ellipsometry can probe the complex refractive index or dielectric function tensor, which gives access to fundamental physical parameters and is related to a variety of sample properties, including morphology, crystal quality, chemical composition, or electrical conductivity. It is commonly used to characterize film thickness for single layers or complex multilayer stacks ranging from a few angstroms or tenths of a nanometer to several micrometers with an excellent accuracy. Our system features:
- 450-1000 nm
- sub 3 nm spectral resolution
- Halogen & blue LED
RT-GPC: Tosoh Room-temperature Gel
Permeation Chromatography EcoSEC
Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is a type of size exclusion chromatography (SEC) that separates analytes on the basis of size. The technique is often used for the analysis of polymers. Our Tosoh EcoSEC Ambient (Room Temp)-GPC with RI detector also be can be connected to our Wyatt’s Multi Angle Light Scattering (MALS) instrument for MW determination.
HT-GPC: Tosoh High-temperature Gel
Permeation Chromatography EcoSEC
High Temperature (HT)-Gel permeation chromatography, can be connected to Wyatt’s Dawn Helos Multi-Angle static Light Scattering (MALS). Our system is a Tosoh EcoSEC HT-GPC with RI detector and features:
- Ambient to 220 C, complete package with computer and relevant software
- Heated transfer line to work with external Multi angle light scattering instrument, also equipped with Three HT-GPC columns
High-temperature TGA/DSC: TA Instrument
SDT650
This instrument capable of performing both differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) at the same time. The SDT measures the heat flow and weight changes associated with transitions and reactions in materials over the temperature range ambient to 1500°C. The information provided differentiates endothermic and exothermic events which have no associated weight change (e.g., melting and crystallization) from those which involve a weight change (e.g., degradation).
LB Trough: Biolin Scientific NIMA KN2002
Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) trough is an apparatus that is used to compress monolayers of molecules on the surface of a given subphase (usually water) and measures surface phenomena due to this compression. It can also be used to deposit single or multiple monolayers on a solid substrate. The LB trough's general objective is to study the properties of monolayers of amphiphilic molecules. An amphiphilic molecule is one that contains both a hydrophobic and hydrophilic domain (e.g. soaps and detergents). The LB trough allows investigators to prepare a monolayer of amphiphilic molecules on the surface of a liquid, and then compress or expand these molecules on the surface, thereby modifying the molecular density, or area per molecule. This is accomplished by placing a subphase (usually water) in a trough, spreading a given amphiphile over the surface, and then compressing the surface with barriers (see illustration). The monolayer's effect on the surface pressure of the liquid is measured through use of a Wilhelmy plate, electronic wire probes, or other types of detectors. An LB film can then be transferred to a solid substrate by dipping the substrate through the monolayer.
Mechanical Testing: Instron 5565
Tension testers, or pull testers, are used to determine the tensile strength of various materials from metals to plastics. The Instron tensile testing system utilizes the tension test to perform mechanical test on material. Tensile tests are simple, relatively inexpensive, and fully standardized. By pulling on something, one can very quickly determine how the material will react to forces being applied in tension. As the material is being pulled, one will find its strength along with how much it will elongate. Standard tensile forces can be applied with an electromechanical tensile tester while higher tension loads require a static hydraulic tensile system.
Microscopy: Nikon LV100
Polarized Microscope with heating stage. Nikon’s LV100 POL microscope with following accessories:
- EPI Illuminator with bright and darkfield
5X, 10X, 20X, 50X, 100X objectives - Color camera head
- The Instec HCS 3heating stage has a very precise temperature controller with a range of -190 to 400 °C.
Oxygen Plasma Cleaner: Diener Pico
Plasma cleaning involves the removal of impurities and contaminants from surfaces through the use of an energetic plasma created from gaseous species. Gases such as argon and oxygen, as well as mixtures such as air and hydrogen/nitrogen are used. In a plasma, gas atoms are excited to higher energy states and ionized. As the atoms and molecules 'relax' to their normal, lower energy states they release a photon of light, this results in the characteristic "glow" or light associated with plasma. Different gases give different colors. For example, oxygen plasma emits a light blue color. A plasma's activated species include atoms, molecules, ions, electrons, free radicals, metastables, and photons in the short wave ultraviolet (vacuum UV, or VUV for short) range. This 'soup', which incidentally is around room temperature, then interacts with any surface placed in the plasma. If the gas used is oxygen, the plasma is an effective, economical, environmentally safe method for critical cleaning. The VUV energy is very effective in the breaking of most organic bonds (i.e., C-H, C-C, C=C, C-O, and C-N) of surface contaminants. This helps to break apart high molecular weight contaminants. A second cleaning action is carried out by the oxygen species created in the plasma (O2+, O2-, O3, O, O+, O-, ionised ozone, metastably-excited oxygen, and free electrons). These species react with organic contaminants to form H2O, CO, CO2, and lower molecular weight hydrocarbons. These compounds have relatively high vapour pressures and are evacuated from the chamber during processing. The resulting surface is ultra-clean.
Important: SMF’s oxygen plasma cleaner is NOT used for etching purposes. It’s only used for surface cleaning and surface chemical moieties modification only.
Particle Analysis: Anton-Paar NovaTouch
The Anton Paar NovaTouch surface area and pore size analyzer is a vacuum volumetric gas sorption analyzer and complements our ASiQ instrument. It has two analysis stations, with a dedicated P0 station and with built-in sample preparation ports. It uses the classical helium void volume method. Its innovative full color touchscreen provides real time status and results.
Particle Analysis: Anton Paar Autosorb iQ3
Quantachrome/Anton Paar Autosorb iQ Micropore: Fully automated gas sorption/analyzer for surface area characterization, pore volume and pore size distribution. High-vacuum system and additional low pressure transducers (1000 torr transducer and rotary pump) for high-quality, detailed micropore studies.
Particle Analysis: Anton Paar PoreMaster 33
The Anton Paar PoreMaster 33 offers automatic mercury intrusion for automated pore size analysis. It is able to achieve a maximum pressure of 33,000 psia for pore size measurements in the range from >1100 micron to 0.0064 micron pore diameter. Two low pressure stations plus one high pressure station.
Profilometer: Bruker Dektak XT-A
The Bruker DektakXT surface profiler provides repeatable, accurate measurements on varied surfaces, from traditional 2D roughness surface characterization and step height measurements to advanced 3D mapping and film stress analyses. It also features a revolutionary design that enables 4 angstrom repeatability.
Rheometer: TA Instrument ARES-G2
A rheometer is used to measure the way in which a liquid, suspension or slurry flows in response to applied forces. It is used for those fluids which cannot be defined by a single value of viscosity and therefore require more parameters to be set and measured than is the case for a viscometer. Our high-resolution Rheometer is equipped with following accessories:
- Smart Swap Advanced Peltier System (APS) Jacket and Environmental Control Box, Peltier Circulator Thermo Cube and miscellaneous plates.
- Double Wall Ring Interfacial (DWR) Rheology System
- Universal Testing Platform (Sentmanat Extention)
- Dielectric Thermal Analysis
- Force Convection Oven with Camera, Air Dryer, Melt Rheology Geometry Bundle, LN2 Controller
Rheometer-DMA, with air-chiller
DMA is used for measurement of various types of polymer materials using different deformation modes. There are tension, compression, dual cantilever bending, 3-point bending and shear modes, and the most suitable type should be selected depending on the sample shape, modulus and measurement purpose. The DMA spectra provide materials characteristics, such as storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E′′), Tg, crystallinity, and phase separation.
Rheosense
Rheosense ‘Rheometer-on-a-chip’ (model m-VROC-II) equipment measures the pressure drop to measure shear stress and use flow rates to control the flow. It enables material characterization with its unique combinination of microfluidic and MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technologies to measure dynamic viscosity over a wide dynamic range of operation. This effectively provides complete characterization of viscosity as a function of shear rate or temperature.
Besides controlled shear rates and small samples, the proposed m-VROC-II is an automated, small sample viscometer, featuring the widest dynamic range (high shear rate viscosity measurements up to 1,400,000 s-1) with as little as 20 microliters of sample.
Spectroscopy: Agilent Cary 6000i UV/Vis/NIR
UV/Visible/NIR Spectrophotometer (with Diffuse Reflectance, UMA and Praying Mantis). Cary 6000i Spectrophotometer, with following properties and accessories
- 175-1800 nm range and it uses unqiue InGaAs detection for improved linearity.
- Universal Measurement Accessory: multi-angle, absolute reflection (R), transmission (T), absorptance (A) and scattering measurements, which are perfect for materials research, i.e. optics, thin films/coatings, solar and glass.
- Diffuse Reflectance Accessory: reflectance, transmittance, or absorptance measurements of diffuse, specular, or mixed samples.
- Praying Mantis Accessory: has several advantages over traditional integrating spheres; Ideal for very small samples (3 mm in diameter), can be used for samples that must be kept horizontal, such as powders, liquids or pastes.
Spectroscopy: Horiba FluoroLog Fluorimeter
The Horiba FluoroLog-3 can measure Steady State and Lifetime. Features:
- detect 50-femtomolar fluorescein
- Unique, modular system which allows the researcher to interchange a versatile range of accessories to correspond perfectly with the characteristics of a given sample
Spectroscopy: Nicolet iS50 FT/IR Spectrometer
and Microscope
FT-IR Spectrometer (with Microscope, NIR and TGA modules)
Nicolet iS50, with following accessories:
- Automated beam splitter for MID-NIR-FIR
- Gas Diffuse Reflectance Accessory (DRA)
- Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR)
- FTIR microscope
Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA):
A Instrument Q5500
Thermogravimetric analysis is a method of thermal analysis in which the mass of a sample is measured over time as the temperature changes. This measurement provides information about physical phenomena, such as phase transitions, absorption and desorption; as well as chemical phenomena including thermal decomposition, and solid-gas reactions (e.g., oxidation or reduction).