Facilities & Equipment:

Rheological characterizations are carried out using a state-of-the-art rheometer which is equipped with major accessories – different geometries (cone-plate, parallel plate, concentric cylinder) for bulk rheology; bicone and Du Nouy ring for surface and interfacial rheology; peltier plate for temperature control; environmental heating chamber for work with polymer melts.
Testing capabilities include – rate controlled, stress controlled; rotational, oscillatory; steady, transient. Major instruments available (as needed) for other physico-chemical characterizations of materials and surfaces/interfaces include – differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, TEM/cryo-TEM, SEM/enviro-SEM, scanning probe microscopy, dynamic light scattering, x-ray powder diffraction, small-angle x-ray scattering, wide-angle x-ray scattering, spectroscopic ellipsometry, surface/interfacial tensiometry, contact-angle goniometry, high-speed video microscopy, among others. Support equipment available for chemical analysis, preparation, processing, storage, and handling of samples include – UV-Vis spectrophotometry, analytical balance, high-shear mixer, ultrasonic processor, shakers, hot plates, magnetic stirrers; centrifuge; turbidimeter; dry heat sterilizer, gravity oven, incubator; refrigerator, freezer; and a variety of labware. Very important, PRAD has full access to the vast digital, laboratory, and library resources of the University of Minnesota.