Microscopy & Microtechniques 83 Optical Rheology Stage used to Investigate LCP Polymer Blends


Linkam Scientific Instruments report on the use of their popular CSS450 stage for polymer research at the New University of Lisbon, Portugal.


Associated with the Department of Materials Science, University of Lisbon, CENIMAT (a national scientific research centre in Portugal) is devoted to developing radical new approaches in the areas of structural, electronic and optoelectronic, polymeric and mesomorphic, dielectric and electroactive materials. Professor Maria Teresa Cidade and her colleagues are looking at the fibrillation mechanisms within two blends of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a liquid crystalline polymer, Rodrun LC3000 (10 and 25 wt % LCP content). The scientists' initial studies of the blends using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the 10wt% blend had no fibrils, yet the 25wt% blend did have some evidence of fibrillation. To better understand the mechanical behaviour of the polymer blends, the scientists used the Linkam CSS450 stage to study the rheo-optical properties.


Professor Cidade commented "the Linkam CSS 450 Shearing System allows us to follow the morphology/texture of different kind of fluids such as liquid crystals, emulsions and composites." Using the CSS450, the structural dynamics of complex fluids can be directly observed using a standard optical microscope while under precisely controlled temperature and shear modes. The microstructure evolution of complex fluids can be studied in great detail for many physical processes. This allows the correlation of the micro structural dynamics with rheological data to gain insight into the rheology of complex fluids. The images captured can also be used to validate numerical results from computer simulations and experimental data from indirect measurements such as using scattering techniques.


Samples were observed for droplet size and deformation under varying shear rates It was shown that the blend with the lower LCP content had minimal relaxation times which did not increase exponentially for higher shear rates. The blend with the higher LCP content showed increasing relaxation times in parallel with the increase of shear rate. Professor Cidade explained, "We found that the droplet shape relaxation time (the time the deformed droplet takes to regain its spherical form after cessation of flow) allowed for the explanation of the morphological observations."


MORE INFO. 182


Microscopy Company Celebrates 25th Anniversary


Motic, specialists in designing and manufacturing advanced microscopy products and now one of the leading brands in digital microscopy, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary.


Throughout the years Motic’s main goals have remained those of when the Company was first founded: excellent price-performance ratio, innovative technology, superb quality and friendly customer service.


For these reasons, and in order to match its increasing demand in the market, the Company expanded and gradually opened different offices around the world in locations such as Canada, China, Germany, Spain and USA.


Today, Motic counts with a dedicated team of more than 2000 individuals who are ready to assist users in finding a competitive solution to meet their requirements. Thanks to the excellent long-term relations with its dealers they are also increasing the knowledge of the reliability and quality of Motic products.


To show its strength in its 25th birthday Motic has already begun by launching a variety of brand new models and will continue doing so throughout 2013. Some of the most important additions to its range are the advanced polarisation microscope BA310POL, the stereo zoom microscopes SMZ- 161/171, the metallurgical models BA-310MET and AE-2000MET, the inspection and quality control microscope VIS100/VIS200, the HD integrated digital camera Moticam 580INT and the advanced Wifi camera Moticam X.


Motic is doing its best to innovate and ensure their presence in the market for the next 25 years. MORE INFO. 183


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