The Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM)

Equipment:

TA Instruments RFS II

Faculty advisor: Paul A. Janmey

This facility is capable of characterizing both the structure and flow properties of simple and complex fluids. It can solve the most demanding fluid rheology problems including dynamic oscillatory and shear rate controlled measurements on low viscosity structured fluids. It is equipped with:

• Peltier plate temperature control (from -30oC to 150 oC)
• Recirculating fluid bath (from -10 oC to 140 oC)
• Forced convection oven
• Torque ranges from 0.002 to 1000 g.cm
• Frequency ranges from 10-5 to 500 rad/sec
  

Bohlin Gemini

Faculty advisor: Arjun G. Yodh

The Bohlin Gemini rheometer is optimized for both stress controlled and strain controlled measurements. Technical features include a broad torque range, which extends to 200 mNm. The high-resolution torque mapping system applied to Bohlin's low bias air bearing technology allows low torques to be set extremely accurately. The Bohlin is ideal for stress or strain controlled measurements of viscoelastic fluids with shear modulus as low as 1mPa.

Haake CaBER

Faculty advisor: Arjun G. Yodh

The Haake CaBer (capillary break-up extensional rheometer) provides valuable information about a material's extensional properties that rotational rheometers cannot provide. With the CaBER, stringiness, filaments break-up time and extensional viscosity can be quantified.

Instron Model 5564 Table Mounted Materials Testing System

Faculty advisor: Karen I. Winey

This facility is capable of performing tensile, compression, peel, and flexural tests on most materials and components. It is equipped with:

• 2 tension/compression load cells with capacity of 2kN and 10N, respectively.
• 1 rigid coupling.
• 1 micro 3-point bend fixture.
• 2 stainless steel tensile grips with 100lb capacity.
• 1 double-walled saline immersion vessel with digital temperature controller.