A versatile optical tensiomer allowing the investigation of static and dynamic interfacial properties in multiphase soft matter systems comprised of stimuli-responsive interfaces.

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The design, preparation and characterization of advanced soft multiphase materials is an intensive field of research because of their wide array of actual and potential fields of applications : high-performance composites and polymers, multiphase emulsions and foams for the cosmetic and food industries, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery devices are only a few examples. All of these materials are comprised of interfaces which (i) play key roles during processing and microstructure development ; (ii) are directly linked to the material properties ; (iii) assure material functionalities. More recently, intensive research efforts have also been concentrated in the preparation of stimuli-responsive interfaces to either obtain smart materials that are sensitive to their environment, or to enhance process performances to develop greener ones, such as the ability to form and break emulsions with an external trigger. An optical tensiometer is specifically designed to measure a variety of key surface and interfacial properties : (1) surface energies, (2) interfacial tensions and (3) interfacial viscoelastic properties. The optical tensiometer we request is a versatile instrument that can perform all of these measurements in static (equilibrium) and dynamic (time dependant) modes, without or with surfactants or interfacially active nano/microparticles (adsorption measurements). It will have the unique feature of allowing the study of multiphase systems with a droplet-in-droplet injection module. The instrument will allow measurements at temperatures ranging from sub-ambient to over 400 degC - suitable for liquids and polymer melts. At least 4 research programs comprising 10 projects will directly benefit from this instrument and will expand their expertise on a variety of interfaces : (i) stimuli-responsive interfaces ; (ii) polymer interfaces modified with copolymers ; (iii) interfaces modified with surfactants, micro/nanoparticles and/or complexes of proteins and polysaccharides ; (iv) metal/solid surfaces with modified chemistries ; (v) systems with multiple interfaces that drive their self-organization. This tensiometer will contribute to the training of highly qualified scientists in the field of the science and engineering of soft matter interfaces.