Instruments

The TA Instruments RSA-G2 dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) is the most advanced platform for mechanical analysis of solid and soft-solid materials. With a separate motor and transducer design, it is capable of performing the most accurate strain-controlled dynamic mechanical analysis measurements. The SMCF maintains various test geometries to support a range of DMA testing conditions. The forced convection oven (20–500°C) with house air and nitrogen gas, the Air Chiller System (-120–20°C) with house air, and the liquid immersion tension geometry support testing in a variety of well-controlled environments.

Instrument specifications

• Force range: 0.0005–35 N (10 µN resolution)
• Dynamic displacement range: 50 µm – 1.5 mm (1 nm resolution)
• Modulus range: 103–1012 Pa (1% precision)
• Frequency range: 10-5–100 Hz
• Heating/cooling rate: 0.1–60°C/min (±0.1°C stability)

The TA Instruments ARES-G2 shear rheometer is the most advanced rotational rheometer for research and development. It remains the only rheometer with a dedicated actuator for deformation control, Torque Rebalance Transducer, and Force Rebalance Transducer for independent shear and normal stress measurements. The SMCF maintains various test geometries to support a range of testing conditions. The forced convection oven (20–500°C) with house air and nitrogen gas, the Advanced Chiller System (-120–20°C) with house air, and the Advanced Peltier System (-10–150°C) with solvent trap support testing in a variety of well-controlled environments.

Instrument specifications

• Torque range: 0.0001–200 mN∙m (1 nN∙m resolution)
• Dynamic displacement range: 1 µm–unlimited (0.05 µm resolution)
• Angular frequency range: 10-7–628 rad/s
• Heating/cooling rate: 0.1–60°C/min (±0.1°C stability)

Zwick-Roell zwickiLine Z0.5 materials testing instruments incorporate a high-performance drive motor, high stiffness load-frame, and fine resolution load-cell design for precise and reliable materials testing. The VideoXtens extensometer enables precision measurement of specimen size during testing, as well as real-time video capture. Users can perform tests in a variety of geometries, including tension, compression, and lap shear. The convection oven supports testing from -40–130°C, and a submersion chamber is available for wet testing of materials. 100 and 500 N load cells are equipped for tests of soft materials requiring fine force resolution.

The TA Instruments Discovery 2500 differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) provides best-in-class measurement performance in terms of baseline flatness, sensitivity, resolution, and reproducibility. This Discovery 2500 is Modulated-DSC enabled, providing the most complete analysis of complex thermal processes in broad classes of materials. TZero sample pans and a 54 slot autosampler enable highly automated testing of materials in well-controlled environmental conditions. The Refrigerated Cooling System permits measurements from -90 to 400°C without the need for liquid nitrogen.

Instrument specifications

• Temperature accuracy: ±0.025°C
• Typical sample size: 5–10 mg
• Baseline drift: less than 5 μW

The TA Instruments Discovery thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) is a superior platform for thermal analysis of materials, providing lower mass drift than any competitive TGA and high precision temperature control from ambient to 1200°C. The gas delivery module provides seamless switching between house nitrogen and air purge, and the 25 pan autosampler enables automated, high throughput testing of materials.

Instrument specifications

• Platinum, high temperature platinum, and ceramic TGA pans available for wide range of testing conditions
• Sample capacity: up to 1 gram (5 mg typical)
• Baseline drift: less than 10 µg

The latest line of Shimadzu HPLC instrumentation coupled with a trio of Wyatt Technology’s on-line detectors provides unprecedented capability to characterize the molecular size, architecture, conformation, and molar mass of macromolecules in solution. The Wyatt Dawn HELEOS II multi-angle light scattering (MALS) instrument provides on-line absolute molecular weight measurement, in addition to traditional column calibration techniques, for determination of molar mass distributions. A 105-slot autosampler enables efficient testing of large sample sets. The MALS detector can be decoupled from the SEC system for static LS measurements of a variety of polymers/proteins/nanoparticles.

Instrument specifications

• Pump: Shimadzu HPLC LC20-AD
• Eluent: THF
• SEC columns: 2 Agilent PLgel 5 um MIXED-D + guard

Detectors

• Wyatt DAWN HELEOS II MALS detector (can be used online or stand-alone)
• Wyatt ViscoStar III differential viscometer
• Wyatt Optilab T-rEX differential refractive index detector
• Shimadzu SPD-M30A Photodiode Array detector (200-800 nm)

The Tosoh EcoSEC size exclusion chromatography System is specifically designed for fast polymer analysis. The all-in-one design provides low dead volume for high resolution applications, temperature-controlled pumps for excellent flow rate precision, and a dual flow refractive index detector design for unmatched baseline stability. We use this system to analyze polar organic polymers, ionic and water-soluble polymers, as well as proteins. A Wyatt 3-angle MiniDAWN provides absolute molar mass characterization measurement, in addition to conventional column calibration.

Instrument Specifications

• Eluent: DMF + 0.01 M LiBr (50º C)
• Size exclusion chromatography columns: Tosoh SuperAW3000 + Tosoh SuperAW4000 + guard
   
• Eluent: Water or 1xPBS (at various pH)
• Size exclusion chromatography columns: Agilent Aquagel-OH 20, 40, 60 + guard

The Wyatt Möbiuζ is the top-of-the-line light scattering instrument for reliable, reproducible, and non-destructive electrophoretic mobility and size analysis of macromolecules and nanoparticles with sizes ranging from as small as 1 nm to as large as 50 μm. The combined DLS/ELS measurement geometry enables simultaneous measurement of size and mobility for the direct determination of zeta potential and net charge.   

Test environments and instrument specifications

• Sample temperature control from 4–70°C (±0.1°C) for exploration of a variety of sample conditions
• Quartz micro-cuvettes (45 μL) enable measurement of small sample sizes and/or organic solvents
• Disposable polystyrene cuvettes available for DLS temperature
• Atlas pressurization system available for measurement of mobility in high salt buffers
• Typical sample concentration: 1–10 mg/mL

The Tosoh EcoSEC-HT size exclusion chromatography System is specifically designed for fast polymer analysis. The all-in-one design provides low dead volume for high resolution applications, temperature-controlled pumps for excellent flow rate precision, and a dual flow refractive index detector design for unmatched baseline stability. We use this system to analyze polar organic polymers, ionic and water-soluble polymers, as well as proteins. A Wyatt 8-angle detector provides absolute molar mass characterization measurement, in addition to conventional column calibration with PS standards.

Instrument Specifications

• Eluent: TCB (135º C typical)
• Size exclusion chromatography columns: TSKgel GMHHR-H (S) HT2 (2x) + guard

The Shimadzu UV-3600 Plus UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer incorporates the latest technology to achieve high sensitivity, high resolution, and low stray light levels for optimal measurement of the UV-VIS-NIR spectrum in liquid, film, and powder samples. The first-in-class triple detector system and a high-performance double monochromator enable measurements with noise levels lower than 0.002 Abs at 0.1 nm wavelength resolution. A dual beam design provides simultaneous measurement of sample and reference materials.

Specifications

• Cuvette holder, film holder (transmission), Praying Mantis diffuse reflectance attachment
• Spectral range: 185–3300 nm
• Wavelength resolution: 0.1 nm

The Shimadzu IRTracer-100 Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) enables fast and straightforward collection of high-quality FTIR spectra from a variety of samples ranging from liquids to rigid solids. With a signal-to-noise ratio better than 1000:1, this instrument is capable of measuring complex samples, from ultrathin polymer films to trace (parts per million) quantities of impurities in a bulk material. An onboard dehumidifier and active alignment function ensure continued, optimal performance of all optical elements.

Specifications

• GladiATR (diamond prism) single bounce attenuated total reflection (ATR) attachment for rapid sample analysis
• Temperature control from ambient to 300°C
• Spectral range: 7800–350 cm-1
• Wavenumber resolution: 0.25–16 cm-1
• Wavenumber accuracy: better than 0.2 cm-1