Equipment & techniques
For our Analysis & Advice projects we can make use of our own infrastructure and that of the TU/e.
Below you can find an overview of (part of) the equipment and techniques available at PTG/e, including a brief description of the equipment or technique.
You can also download a pdf overview of available analysis equipment and techniques.
category
Technique
UV-vis spectroscopy
Brand
UV-vis spectroscopy is a powerful tool for determining how molecules and materials interact with light. For a range of wavelengths, a beam of monochrome light is passed through the sample. Suitable samples absorb part of the light within a specific wavelength range, which provides information on the concentration of certain molecules in a sample when compared to a reference of known concentration. Additionally, UV-vis spectroscopy can be used to follow the kinetics of (chemical) reactions occurring in a sample over time.
Confocal Raman spectroscopy
- Characterization
Brand
Raman spectroscopy is similar to infrared spectroscopy in a way that both techniques are used to identify unknown substances. Raman spectroscopy uses a laser to interact with an unknown substance. Confocal Raman microscopy combines the Raman spectroscopy with an optical microscope, which provides extra spatial (vertical and horizontal) resolution of samples. Therefore, this technique is especially useful for microscopic defect analysis. Analyses can be performed in 1D, 2D and 3D with spot sizes of less than 1,0 μm.
Contact angle
- Characterization
Brand
Contact angle measurements can be done on flat surfaces to determine its hydrophobic or hydrophilic behavior. A total of 10 drops will be placed on the to be measured surface which are then imaged by a camera. Via the software the contact angle at the left and right size is than calculated, and gives an average over the 10 droplets. With contact angle measurements a variation of +/- 3° in between measurements is within the tolerance limits.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
- Characterization
Brand
Melting/crystallization temperature
Heat capacity
Phase change enthalpy
DSC is used to obtain information from materials based on the response to change in temperature. It can reveal phase changes like melting, crystallization or a glass transition, which can help to identify polymers or provide compositional information (particularly when combined with other analytical techniques). The data can also be used to determine a material’s initial processing parameters. Furthermore, various kinetic events can be analyzed, such as curing or oxidation reactions.
Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
- Characterization
Brand
DLS is a technique used to determine the size of particles dispersed in a liquid or the size of droplets in an emulsion. The particle or droplet size distribution is measured with an Anton Paar Litesizer 500. The dispersion or emulsion is first diluted with the liquid in which the particles are dispersed to the appropriate concentration before it is transferred to the cuvette for the measurement.
Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA)
- Characterization
Brand
3-point bending
Film-tension
Compression
Thermo-mechanical properties
Glass transition temperature (Tg)
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE)
DMTA is a technique used to analyze the viscoelastic behavior of a material as a function of temperature of frequency. From the resulting variation in material stiffness, properties such as the glass transition temperature (Tg) can be determined. Transitions corresponding to other molecular motions can be identified as well.