Stress-Controlled Rheometry System for Multiplexed Characterization of Multifunctional, Adaptive Soft Materials
Abstract
Soft materials that can sense, respond, and adapt to external stimuli are a critical component of advanced materials systems that will be employed by the modern warfighter. New experimental characterization tools that are capable of performing in-situ stimulus-response measurements, as well as simultaneously measure orthogonal materials properties, are essential to developing design principles for these next-generation materials. This proposal is for the acquisition of a stresscontrolled rheometry system that interfaces with a number of key experimental modules and environmental control systems with the goal of providing new mechanical testing capability for multifunctional, adaptive polymeric and soft materials. The proposed modules include a controlled relative humidity chamber, an impedance analyzer, UV light source, blue LED light source, as well as pertinent temperature control systems. The ability of this instrument to interface with these modules will enable unprecedented analysis of the mechanical properties of a variety of polymeric/soft materials under in-situ application of external stimulus, temperature, and relative humidity conditions that are not achievable with the instrumentation available to the investigators. The proposed rheometry system will also enable simultaneous characterization of orthogonal materials properties, e.g. the mechanical modulus and ionic conductivity, providing crucial data toward advancing new classes of multifunctional, adaptive soft materials. The acquisition of this rheometry system will have immediate impact on the current DoD/ARO research portfolio of two University of Chicago principal investigators, and this system will be invaluable to the work of an Army Research Laboratory (ARL) funded researcher currently working in the Rowan laboratory at the University of Chicago. Maintained as part of the Soft Matter Characterization Facility, this rheometry system will be available to personnel at the University of Chicago, local universities, Argonne National Lab, and the planned ARL Central facility. Over the course of its useful lifetime, it is anticipated that the placement of this rheometry system at UChicago will impact the work of many other principal investigators in the Chicago region and will contribute to the research education of hundreds of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 04, 2021
- Source ID
- W911NF2110023
Entities
People
- Stuart J. Rowan
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Chicago