Acquisition of an oil-free air compressor for support of solid-state NMR spectrometers

请求提供资金购买一台无油高压空气压缩机，以供应达尔豪西大学核磁共振研究资源的固态核磁共振分光计。固态NMR实验需要高速样品旋转和样品冷却，以获得有用的数据。纺丝和冷却都是通过供应高压、非常清洁和非常干燥的空气来完成的。工厂中现有的压缩机已经过时，磨损很快;已经花费了大量的时间、精力和金钱将其修补在一起。如果没有压缩机，固态核磁共振光谱仪基本上毫无用处。这些光谱仪为达尔豪西和该地区的学术和工业实验室提供数据。本提案突出了三个方面。Josef Zwanziger正在研究用于高性能仪器和光纤通信的光学玻璃。玻璃结构是研究的重要组成部分，主要由固态NMR确定。丹尼尔博伊德正在开发用于癌症治疗的生物活性玻璃;同样，固态NMR是一种必不可少的表征技术。最后，Jan Rainey正在研究和优化蜘蛛丝，这是一种具有惊人机械性能的天然材料。他的工作也完全依赖于NMR数据。如果没有空气压缩机，固态核磁共振光谱仪将不得不关闭，这些非常成功的研究项目以及该地区的许多其他项目将被阻止。

Funds are requested to purchase an oil-free, high pressure air compressor to supply solid-state NMR spectrometers in the Dalhousie University Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Research Resource. Solid-state NMR experiments require both high speed sample spinning, and sample cooling, in order to obtain useful data. Both spinning and cooling are accomplished with a supply of high pressure, very clean and very dry air. The current compressor in the facility is obsolete and wearing out quickly; considerable time, effort, and money have already been spent patching it together. Without a compressor, the solid-state NMR spectrometers are essentially useless. These spectrometers provide data for a wide variety of labs at Dalhousie and the region, both academic and industrial. Three are highlighted in this proposal. Josef Zwanziger is studying optical glass for use in high performance instrumentation and fiber optic communication. The glass structure, an essential part of the research, is determined largely by solid-state NMR. Daniel Boyd is developing bioactive glasses for use in cancer treatments; again, solid-state NMR is an essential characterization technique. Finally, Jan Rainey is studying and optimizing spider silk, a natural material with amazing mechanical properties. His work as well is completely dependent on NMR data. Without an air compressor, the solid-state NMR spectrometers will have to be closed down and these highly successful research programs, and many others in the region, will be blocked.