MRI: Acquisition of a Calorimetry STA/TMA System for Coe College

该主要研究仪器（MRI）奖由材料研究部门和刺激竞争研究的既定计划（EPSCoR）共同资助，将获得一个新的热表征系统，该系统将允许科学院的物理系测量取决于温度的各种属性。 科学家们将能够观察样品在温度升高到2000摄氏度时的行为。 更具体地说，他们将在极难制造的玻璃上进行实验。他们还将测量热性能，如熔点，结晶温度和玻璃化转变温度（玻璃开始软化）。 该系统还将允许测量机械性能。 这些决定了玻璃随着温度的增加（热膨胀系数）以及体积和密度的变化而拉伸的容易程度。 更先进的实验，如烧结温度（玻璃颗粒聚结成固体）确定属性也将是可能的。 这些测量对于了解未来对美国经济具有重要意义的最先进的新玻璃和陶瓷材料至关重要。 这项工作也将允许许多本科生的培训。 除了进行上述研究外，他们还将在某些高级课程中接触乐器。 国际合作者也将有机会在他们访问Coe.Technical SummaryThe新的热表征系统在科学院将由一个同步热分析仪（它运行差示扫描量热法（DSC），差热分析（DTA），热重分析（TGA））和热机械分析仪（TMA）。 这套工具将使各Coe研究小组能够将其测量能力扩展到高温范围，DSC/DTA测量高达2000 °C和1600 °C，用于机械（TMA）实验。 项目将涵盖从对空气悬浮样品的测量到倒置玻璃和拓扑约束理论（TCT）模型结果之间的比较。 离子导电玻璃的热性能也将进行研究。 STA+TMA系统将为科学院的材料研究小组增加实质性的新能力;允许培训70多名本科生，并继续科学院作为区域材料表征中心的发展。 反过来，该系统的表征工作将影响其他当地学术机构和公司，国内和国际合作者; REU学生;以及参与Coe RET计划的高中教师。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Non-Technical SummaryThis Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award, jointly funded by the Division of Materials Research and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), will acquire a new thermal characterization system which will allow the Physics Department at Coe College to measure various properties that depend on temperature up to very high values. The scientists will be able to look at the behavior of samples as the temperature is increased up to 2000 degrees Celsius. More specifically, they will conduct experiments on glasses that are extremely difficult to make. They will also measure thermal properties like melting points, crystallization temperatures, and the glass transition temperature (where the glass begins to soften). The system will also allow for the measurement of mechanical properties. These determine how easily a glass stretches as the temperature increases (thermal expansion coefficient), as well as volume and density changes. More advanced experiments that determine properties like the sintering temperature (where glass grains coalesce into a solid) will also be possible. These measurements are critical to understanding state-of-the-art new glasses and ceramic materials of future importance to the US economy. The work will also allow for the training of many undergraduate students. On top of carrying out the research described above, they will also be exposed to the instruments in certain advanced classes. International collaborators will also have access to the equipment during their visits to Coe.Technical SummaryThe new thermal characterization system at Coe College will be composed of a Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer (which runs differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)) and a ThermoMechanical Analyzer (TMA). This suite of tools will enable various Coe research groups to expand their measurement capabilities into the high-temperature range, with DSC/DTA measurements up to 2000 °C and 1600 °C for the mechanical (TMA) experiments. Projects will span from measurements on aerolevitated samples to comparisons between the results on invert glasses and topological constrain theory (TCT) models. The thermal properties of ionically conducting glasses will also be studied. The STA+TMA system will add substantive new capabilities to the materials research groups at Coe College; allow for the training of over 70 undergraduate students, and continue the growth of Coe College as a regional materials characterization hub. In turn, the characterization work on the system will impact other local academic institutions and companies, domestic and international collaborators; REU students; and high school teachers participating in Coe’s RET program.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.