Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Rheology is the science of studying how materials deform and flow with the application of forces. Complex fluids have internal structures which deform and reorient under the influence of deformation. Examples include polymers, nano-suspensions, liquid crystals, colloids, emulsions, foams and biological fluids. Understanding the flow of these materials is a challenging science involving experimentation, computation and modelling. An essential part of the research related to these materials involves measurement and characterization of their physical properties, using a rheometer. Since 2007 Grecov's research grade rotational rheometer has been a Kinexus, which is now inoperable. The applicants are requesting funding for a Netzsch Kinexus ultra + rheometer to replace the existent unit. A new magneto-rheology device (MRD) will be designed and built at UBC in collaboration with the manufacturer of the rheometer, Netzsch. The device will be used as an accessory to Kinexus rotational rheometer. Additional moduli (Tribological cell and Microscope) will be added to the basic configuration. The main need for this proposal stems from the fact that the current rheometer is inoperable and outdated. The rheometer is the key analytical tool used in Grecov's research. It will be used by almost all her graduate students. The additional accessories of the rheometer will strengthen the research and increase the impact of the work of the group. Delaying access to adequate tools will delay progress in this program and will affect the graduation schedule of the associated graduate students. For Chiao's research, the proposed equipment is critical. There is very few equipment that can measure magneto-mechanical properties of polymers. Without the proposed equipment, polymer properties can only be qualitatively estimated combining with computer simulation, that can be time consuming and inaccurate. Grecov's research program, supported by the NSERC Discovery Grant, “Novel high-performance lubricants for industrial and biomedical applications”, it will be undertaken using the proposed equipment. The same research program has been awarded a Discovery Accelerator Supplement. Supported by an NSERC Discovery grant, Chiao's lab has been working with PDMS polymers mixing with magnetic particles to form ?exible magnetic actuators. Chiao anticipates to use the new tool to measure the viscosity of the polymer solutions as functions of temperature and magnetic ?elds. The information will be needed to postulate the ?nal mechanical properties such as shear moduli after polymerization.