Coupled Microscopy and Rheometry for Complex Material Design and Analysis
Abstract
Description of the instrumentation requested The instrumentation requested includes a coupled rheo-microscopy system that combines a research grade rheometer (by Anton Paar) and a confocal microscope with resonant scanning (by Leica), as well as a digital microscope with advanced software capable of confocal-grade imaging and powerful quantification function (by Keyence) to be used for sample pre-screening and control analysis. The rheometer will be modified by vendor for mounting an inverted microscope below the sample stage of the rheometer, allowing time-resolved imaging of the three-dimensional microstructure of a soft material while its bulk viscoelastic properties are measured simultaneously under imposed force and flow. The separate microscope is an automated all-in-one digital microscope with a compact design and built-in dark room and will thus be portable to allow control analysis of material samples in their lab of origin through brightfield, phase contrast, and/or fluorescence imaging. Research activities to be supported The requested instrumentation will support a broad range of research activities in physical, material and biological sciences currently conducted at CCNY. The combination of microscopy with rheometry has in the last decade been demonstrated to provide insight to the fundamental relationship between the microstructure of complex Òsoft materialsÓ and their mechanical properties and behavior. CCNY has areas of excellence but also aspires to expand such materials science research based on establishment of microstructure-property relations to allow innovative design, manufacture and applications of materials. The resultant new materials, material processes and properties hold promise in improving the performance, increasing the reliability, or reducing the cost of future Army systems. In this proposal, fourteen research groups at CCNY plan to utilize the microscopy-rheometry system for immediate impact on their current research projects. A variety of materials will be explored, such as drilling fluids, hydrate-foaming emulsions, suspensions of cellular materials, hydrogel-based biomaterials, and polypeptide networks. These projects, currently funded by federal agencies and industries such as DoD, DoE, NSF, NIH, NYC Environmental Protection Department, Exxon Mobil and Chevron, have potentially significant impacts on addressing global challenges in health, environment, and energy. The proposed projects are also fundamental and multi-disciplinary in nature and may inspire future applications for the Army. Once the instrumentation installed and available on campus, we anticipate higher usage and larger impact in the research community at CCNY. Research-related education programs to be supported As an urban public university serving over 14,000 students with ~35% Hispanic students and ~51% minorities, CCNY has the mission of elevating education and research in emerging technologies. During the last few years, CCNYÕs objective was to dramatically enhance its reputation as a leading research university. According to the latest Center for World University Rankings, CCNY is among the top 1.8% out of 19,788 universities worldwide. CCNY was also listed by AcademicInfluence.com in 2021 as one of the 50 Best Research Universities in the U.S. for Undergraduates. The PIs and key collaborators have and will continue to routinely mentor undergraduate and high-school students through STEM research programs at CCNY, such as NSF REU programs, NSF PIRE, and College Now STEM Research Academy. The team will also integrate the requested instrument into the curriculums of several graduate-level courses at Grove School of Engineering. These activities will expose students to the cutting-edge technologies and research and potentially motivating them to pursue STEM degrees and careers in the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 02, 2022
- Source ID
- W911NF2210207
Entities
People
- Jing Fan
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- City University of New York
- Office of the Secretary of Defense