Acquisition of X-Ray Diffractometer for Polymer Research and Education

该资助行动支持收购理学MSC广角x射线衍射仪，用于凯斯西储大学聚合物样品的结构分析。该设备是大型聚合物研究中心必不可少的内部设备。它也用于指导本科生和研究生在正式的实验课程的聚合物表征。x射线分析是确定许多聚合物体系结构变化的首选方法，这些变化是由不同的加工条件、环境因素、物理/机械历史等引起的。因此，衍射仪将成为研究聚合物结构、检测和鉴定晶体结构、测定结晶度和晶体大小的主要工具。新设备取代了现已过时的衍射仪（购买于20世纪80年代中期），并将具有额外的功能，使在不同温度（-180℃至300℃）和各种受控环境条件下常规快速获取x射线数据成为可能。该软件包将自动确定结晶度、晶体尺寸和晶胞尺寸，并允许Rietveld改进结构和x射线数据模拟。它也将有附件，将允许研究薄膜结构和形态，包括薄膜极图形。从本请求中描述的研究项目可以清楚地看出，该工具将对广泛的研究产生影响。所描述的研究涉及研究生和本科生。大学科学家（大分子科学系的12名成员，化学工程系的2名成员，电气工程系的1名成员和物理系的2名成员）所表现出的兴趣表明了对设备需求的跨学科性质。

This funding action supports the acquisition of a Rigaku MSC wide angle X-ray diffractometer for structural analysis of polymer samples at Case Western Reserve University. This equipment is an essential in-house facility for a large polymer research center. It is also used to instruct undergraduates and graduate students in formal laboratory courses on polymer characterization. X-ray analysis is the method of choice for defining structural changes in many polymer systems that occur as a result of different processing conditions, environmental factors, physical/mechanical history, etc. Thus the diffractometer will be the workhorse for investigation of polymer structure, detection and identification of crystal structures, and determination of degree of crystallinity and crystallite size. The new equipment replaces a now obsolete diffractometer (purchased in the mid-1980s) and will have additional capabilities that make possible the routine rapid acquisition of X-ray data at different temperatures (-180 C to 300 C) and various controlled environmental conditions. The software package will automate determination of degrees of crystallinity, crystallite size and unit cell dimensions, and will permit Rietveld refinement of structure and X-ray data simulation. It will also have attachments that will allow the study of thin film structure and morphology including thin film pole figures. It is clear from research projects described in this request that this instrument will have impact on a wide range of research. Graduate students and undergraduate students are involved in the described research. The interdisciplinary nature of the need for the equipment is indicated by the interest shown by university scientists (twelve members of the Department of Macromolecular Science, two members of the Department of Chemical Engineering, one from the Department of Electrical Engineering and two members of the Physics Department).