Application of Thermal Analysis Techniques Across the Undergraduate Chemistry Curriculum

化学(12)与材料相关的研究和产品在最近的技术进步中很突出，但与材料相关的领域的正式教学通常不在本科课程中。随着获得热分析仪器(差示扫描量热仪和热重分析(DSC/TGA))来支持材料化学方法的教学，我们正在通过将与材料相关的内容注入到我们课程的几个级别的现有本科课程中来实现材料化学教学的正规化。受这一新仪器影响的课程包括普通化学、仪器分析、生物分析和法医化学，以及一门名为“材料化学中的实验室方法”的新课程。利用DSC/TGA技术的教育文献中的实验正在被改编，并在上述每一门实验室课程中实施。例如，我们的普通化学学生使用DSC来研究氨基酸甘氨酸的结晶行为。其他实验，如不同增塑剂对聚苯乙烯薄膜性能的影响，以及将差示扫描量热法(DSC)的玻璃化转变温度测量与一些商业聚合物的性能联系起来，正在适用于其他实验室课程。“材料化学中的实验方法”是一门工作坊式的密集实验室课程，它融合了材料科学中使用的制备和表征策略的理论和应用。学生利用我们现有的设备(IR、核磁共振、旋涂机、管式炉、高真空线、GPC)和新获得的DSC-TGA来概述用于合成和表征有用的固态材料的方法。我们的教职员工也使用这些新仪器与同事和本科生进行合作研究。我们预计，DSC/TGA实验室将大大增加我们学生的技术准备，并为他们在材料相关领域从事教学、研究生学习或寻求工业就业做好更好的准备。

Chemistry (12) Materials-related investigations and products are prominent in recent technological advances, yet formal instruction in materials-related fields is typically absent from the undergraduate curriculum. With the acquisition of thermal analysis instrumentation (differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analysis (DSC/TGA) to support instruction of materials chemistry methods, we are in the process of formalizing instruction in materials chemistry by infusing materials-related content into existing undergraduate courses at several levels of our curriculum. The classes impacted by this new instrumentation include General Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis, Bioanalytical and Forensic Chemistry, and a new course, entitled "Laboratory Methods in Materials Chemistry". Experiments from educational literature that make use of DSC/TGA techniques are being adapted and implemented in each of the above laboratory courses. For example, our general chemistry students use DSC to examine the crystallization behavior of the amino acid glycine. Other experiments, such as the effect of different plasticizers on the properties of polystyrene films and connecting the DSC measurements of glass transition temperature to the performance of some commercial polymers are being adapted in other laboratory courses. The "Laboratory Methods in Materials Chemistry" is a workshop style, laboratory intensive course that blends theory and application of preparative and characterization strategies used in materials science. The students utilize our existing equipment (IR, NMR, spin coater, tube furnaces, high vacuum lines, GPC) with the newly acquired DSC-TGA to provide an overview of methods used to synthesize and characterize useful solid-state materials. The new instruments are also used by our faculty in doing collaborative research with colleagues and undergraduate students. We anticipate that the DSC/TGA laboratories will add significantly to the technical preparation of our students, and better prepare them to teach, pursue graduate study, or seek industrial employment in materials-related fields.