Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is one of the most extensively used thermal analysis apparatus measuring physical properties change of materials, along with temperature against time of materials. Conventional DSC equipment provides valuable molecular insights, including specific heat capacity, glass transition and melting temperature, crystallization and oxidation rates of polymers, blends, composites, and nanomaterials. However, conventional DSC equipment is limited to heating or cooling rates normally in the range 0.2 °C/min to 50 °C/min. This range is limited to detect weak transitions and slight molecular evolutions. Also, practical polymer processing operations, such as melt blowing, fibre spinning, foaming, and thermal spray coating causes superior heating/cooling rates (up to 250 °C/min) that far exceeds the conventional DSC limits. As a result, there is a substantial knowledge gap of our understanding of the chain mobility and structure and morphology development of polymers when they undergo such processes. Recent developments in DSC resulted in fast-scan DSC designs that provide heating/cooling rates of 0.001 to 500 °C/min, which allows meaningful measurements of weak transitions, kinetic and thermal events, and molecular evolution. Currently, no fast-scan DSC exists at the University of Waterloo - home to the Institute of Polymer Research (IPR) with concentrated polymer researchers. The applicants and their HQP will use the requested equipment for thermal analysis in the following research programs: (1) Crystallization kinetics of controlled rheology polymers, (1) crystallization kinetics of biopolymer foams and melt blown fibres (Dr. Mekonnen), (2) Dynamic crosslinking of vitrimers (Dr. Mekonnen), (3) smart gels and functional composites (Dr. Zhao), and (4) design of recyclable elastomers (Dr. Prince). These research programs represent advanced manufacturing processes with rapid heating and cooling rates which cannot be replicated in a conventional DSC. In summary, funds are requested for the acquisition of fast-scan DSC equipment, a crucial analytical tool that will facilitate the fundamental understanding of sustainable polymers production and processing. The research is highly valuable in growing Canada's advanced and sustainable polymer manufacturing sector.