Viscosity measurements are provided by a Gottfert Rheograph 2001 capillary melt rheometer and a laboratory designed and built high pressure viscometer for supercritical fluids investigations. An AIC Linear Rheometer provides measurements of external flow properties and adhesive properties of polymers. Rheo-optical responses are monitored by use of a laboratory constructed shear cell that mounts within a Zeiss optical microscope. This arrangement permits birefringence measurements of polymeric solutions and conoscopy measurements of flowing, liquid crystalline polymers. Small angle light scattering measurements on polymeric fluids under shear are obtained through the use of a specialized, custom built instrument.
Rheology is the study of the flow and deformation of materials.
The complex rheology of many polymers not only constrains potential applications, but it also limits the way that these materials can be processed. Several devices located in the Rheology Laboratory measure the steady state and dynamic mechanical response of polymeric fluids undergoing shear. An AIC Linear Rheometer provides the laboratory with a capability to measure extensional flow properties and also to perform adhesion testing. Additional specialized instruments probe the rheology of low viscosity fluids such as oligomers and dilute solutions. To monitor rheo-optical reponse, investigators in the laboratory have constructed a special shear cell that fits within a Zeiss optical microscope, an arrangement permitting flow birefringence measurements for polymer solutions and conoscopy for flowing liquid crystalline polymers.