Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of Alberta
$108,871.00
Cryoultramicrotome for sectioning of soft materials
FY 2007-08
Summary
The cryo-ultra microtome is a requirement in any polymer or biomedical laboratory that performs characterization of nano-structures. It is used to prepare ultra thin sections (tens of nanometers thick) of soft materials for electron microscopy. It has been found to be useful especially for polymer nanocomposites and biomedical materials. It can be used for sectioning of any soft materials for microscopic characterization and surface analysis. Polymer nanocomposites, polymer blends, biomedical materials used in applications such as drug delivery and biological nano-structures are examples of advanced materials that can be studied. This instrument will be useful to a wide variety of researchers for a wide variety of imaging techniques.Because soft specimens may undergo significant plastic deformation in the cutting process, cryogenic microtoming must be done by cooling the sample with liquid nitrogen so that reproducible sections as thin as 10 nanometres can be cut for imaging via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) or scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This equipment is required for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who will be performing work in the area of polymer blends, polymer nanocomposites and biomedical applications.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
359277-2008
Name nom
Sundararaj, Uttandaraman
Department département
Chemical and Materials Engineering
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2007
Competition year année de concours
2008
Award amount
108871
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
4
Committee name en
Chem. & Metallurgical Eng.
Committee name fr
Génies chimique et métal.
Area of application code
508
Area of application group en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application group fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Area of application en
Polymers, rubber and plastics
Area of application fr
Polymères, caoutchouc et plastiques
Research subject code
2004
Research subject group en
Materials science and technology
Research subject group fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Research subject en
Polymers and coatings
Research subject fr
Polymères et revêtements
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Cryoultramicrotome for sectioning of soft materials
Keyword
NA
Application summary
The cryo-ultra microtome is a requirement in any polymer or biomedical laboratory that performs characterization of nano-structures. It is used to prepare ultra thin sections (tens of nanometers thick) of soft materials for electron microscopy. It has been found to be useful especially for polymer nanocomposites and biomedical materials. It can be used for sectioning of any soft materials for microscopic characterization and surface analysis. Polymer nanocomposites, polymer blends, biomedical materials used in applications such as drug delivery and biological nano-structures are examples of advanced materials that can be studied. This instrument will be useful to a wide variety of researchers for a wide variety of imaging techniques.Because soft specimens may undergo significant plastic deformation in the cutting process, cryogenic microtoming must be done by cooling the sample with liquid nitrogen so that reproducible sections as thin as 10 nanometres can be cut for imaging via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) or scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This equipment is required for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who will be performing work in the area of polymer blends, polymer nanocomposites and biomedical applications.
