Acquisition of Scanning Electron Microscope Instrumentation

利用学术研究基础设施计划的资金，将购买场发射枪扫描电子显微镜（FEG-SEM）用于聚合物，陶瓷和生物材料的研究。 该设施将包括能量色散X射线光谱仪，这将大大改进对所研究材料非常重要的轻元素（硼至氟）的检测。它还将包括一个离子束镀膜机，用于生产非导电材料的高分辨率成像的镍铬涂层。正在调查的研究课题包括：1）生物工程蛋白质和生物陶瓷; 2）生物聚合物的水处理; 3）生物陶瓷植物产品; 4）聚合物表面研究; 5）嵌段共聚物表面; 6）聚合物在界面处的组装; 7）纤维增强聚合物共混物的抗断裂性; 8）橡胶的炭黑增强; 9）尼龙的盐脆化; 10）聚合物从超临界溶液中的凝胶结晶; 11）陶瓷高温裂纹扩展中的微观结构效应; 12）铁和chronditic陨石的冲击和热历史。 场发射枪扫描电子显微镜将获得聚合物，陶瓷和生物材料的研究。该研究涉及聚合物和陶瓷的各种研究，包括生物陶瓷和生物分子材料。这项工作包括研究丝绸薄膜和木材注入陶瓷，并有许多潜在的应用。

With funds from the Academic Research Infrastructure Program a field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM) will be acquired for the study of polymers, ceramics, and biological materials. The facility will include energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) which will provide a substantial improvement in the detection of light elements (boron through fluorine) which is very important for the materials being studied. It will also include an ion beam coater to produce ultrathin chromium coatings for high resolution imaging of nonconducting materials. Research topics under investigation include: 1) bioengineered proteins and bioceramics; 2) aqueous processing of biopolymers; 3) bioceramic plant products; 4) polymer surface studies; 5) block copolymer surfaces; 6) assembly of polymers at interfaces; 7) fracture resistance of fiber- reinforced polymer blends; 8) carbon black reinforcement of rubber; 9) embrittlement of nylons by salt; 10) gelation crystallization of polymers from supercritical solutions; 11) microstructural effects in high tempereature crack growth in ceramics; 12) shock and thermal history of iron and chronditic meteorites. A field emission gun scanning electron microscope will be acquired for the study of polymers, ceramics, and biological materials. The research involves a diverse range of studies of polymer and ceramics, including bioceramics, and biomolecular materials. The work includes studies of silk films and wood infused with ceramics and has many potential applications.