Calander
Sandvik: Two-roll calander, used for compounding of rubber. Minimum volume of material: 100 cm³.
Possible to run without department operator, SEK 300/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.

Responsible person: Mattias Lokander (phone: 08-790 6037, lokander@polymer.kth.se)

CHCl₃-SEC
CHCl₃-SEC exclusion chromatograph (SEC) is used to determine the molar mass distribution of polymers soluble in chloroform. The molar mass is determined by calibration with linear PS or PEG standards. Polymers are analyzed with a Waters 717 plus autosampler and a Waters model 510 apparatus equipped with two PLgel 10 mm mixed-B columns, 300 x 7.5 mm (Polymer Labs., U.K.). Spectra are recorded with a PL-ELS 1000 evaporative light scattering detector (Polymer Labs., U.K.) connected to an IBM-compatible PC. Millennium version 3.2 software is used to process the data. Chloroform is used as eluent, at a flow rate of 1.0 Ml/min.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 100/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Anna Finne (phone: 08-790 8446, annaf@polymer.kth.se)

CL-System
CL-system - conventional Tohokun (equipped with a CLD100 CL-detector from Tohokun Industrial Co., Japan). This instrument measures the integrated chemiluminescence signal that is caused by the oxidation of a polymer. Polypropylene, polyethylene and polyamides are commonly studied, could be run in oxygen atmosphere to follow the oxidation in real time or in nitrogen to evaluate the oxidative status of the material studied. Temperature range: 25-200^oC.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 500/h excl. operator - additional 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Petter Eriksson (phone: 08-790 6036, pettere@polymer.kth.se)

CL-System - Imaging
This instrument was built at the Department of Polymer Technology, KTH. It measures the light intensity over a surface, which corresponds to the oxidation of the material and gives the spatial distribution of the oxidation. The instrument can be used to study diffusion hindered oxidation. The velocity of a propagating oxidation front can be measured.

Department operator needed: SEK 1200/h
Responsible person: Petter Eriksson (phone: 08-790 6036, pettere@polymer.kth.se)

CL-System - Stress
PMT tube model H6180-01 from Hamamatsu. It has the additional ability to measure oxidation in mechanically stressed specimens.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 500/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Petter Eriksson (phone: 08-790 6036, pettere@polymer.kth.se)

Compression moulding machine (old)
Pasadena Hydraulic Press. Pressures up to 30 tons. Area: 300 x 300 (mm)². The deviations in temperature are quite large.

Responsible person: Mattias Lokander (phone: 08-790 6037, lokander@polymer.kth.se)

Creep testing instrument
The creep testing instrument consists of a sample holder rig, an extensiometer and a plotter. Dumbbell shaped samples are used. The samples can be subjected to different constant loads using lead weights and the extension is recorded on the plotter. The elongation of the sample after different times can thus be calculated. No regular service (due to low usage of the instrument) is needed.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 100/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Mikael Sandelin (phone: 08-790 6763, sandelin@polymer.kth.se)

Density Gradient Column
Gradient columns are used for density measurements of polymers. This method covers determination of the density of solids, and powder and sometimes even liquids. The method is based on observing the level to which a test specimen sinks in a liquid column exhibiting a density gradient, in comparison with standards of known density.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 100/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Mikael Hedenqvist (phone: 08-790 7645, mikaelhe@polymer.kth.se) 

Dynamic Mechanical spectrometer: Polymer Laboratories DMTA
Capabilities of equipment and accessories software: Win 3.1 Platform. Spectrometer head. Combined (tensile-compression) head. Different frames and clamps available. Bending cantilever head (single cantilever head and double cantilever head). Different frames and clamps available. Temperature range -120^oC to 500^oC. Temperature controlled by the use of liquid nitrogen. Frequency range 0.01 Hz to 200 Hz (the upper limit is the resonance frequency of the instrument). Principles of the technique. Study of properties of viscoelastic materials, i.e. material with a time lag in deformation response when loaded. By applying sinusoidal stress to a viscoelastic solid body the deformation response can be divided into an elastic part and a viscous part. The complex modulus of the material can be obtained over a range of frequencies (0.01 to 200 Hz) and wide temperature range (-120 to 500^oC). Common applications: Study the viscoelastic properties of polymer solids. The instrument is suitable for detecting transitions in the glassy state and between the glassy state and rubbery state of solids. The application range covers morphology studies of semicrystalline materials, polymer blends and crosslinked polymers. The relatively wide range of temperatures and frequencies (of loading) permits shifting of properties over decades of time.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 500/h excl. operator . additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Andreas Krupicka (phone: 08-790 9752, krupicka@polymer.kth.se)

DSC Mettler 30
The Mettler Toledo STAR^e System: DSC30 module in operation with the Mettler Toledo TC15 TA Controller (thermal analysis) allows DSC measurements from -170 to 600^oC. The measurement is based on the Boersma or heat flux principle. Samples are placed in the oven manually, together with an empty reference cup. The experiment parameters are composed in a PC and sent to the TC15 where the segments of the temperature program are controlled. During a measurement the data are transferred to the PC for an on-line curve in the module control window.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 100/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Marie Lundbäck (phone: 08-790 7288, mariel@polymer.kth.se)

Extruder, Axon model BX-12
Accessoires: Two different dies, feeder band. The machine is used to extrude polymers in a continuous string. There are two different dies available, one round and one rectangular. The feeding band is for adjusting the diameter and the width of the string.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 200/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Fredrik Hedin (phone: 08-790 6037, fredrik@polymer.kth.se)

IR- and Raman spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy is used to investigate quantisized molecular resonances that absorb electromagnetic energy selectively from a broadband infrared source. The absorbance is due to resonance caused by vibration, vibration- rotation, or rotation of bonds in the studied molecule. A molecule will absorb infrared radiation if it vibrates in such a way that its electric dipole moment changes during vibration. The wavelength of the absorbed light will depend on the structure of the specific molecule (bond) absorbing the light, e.g. carbonyl compound will absorb around 1700 cm^-1. Perkin-Elmer Spectrum 2000, equipped for mid-IR, near-IR and FT-Raman measurements. Mid-IR measurements can be made as transmission of ATR measurements both conventionally or in an IR-microscope. The instrument can be used for time resolved IR measurements and is also equipped with a polarizer. Structural characterization of polymers, either bulk or surface structures. Determination of structural changes with time; oxidation reactions, polymerizations, etc. Studies of orientation in polymers.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 1000 respectively 1500/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Mats Johansson (phone: 08-790 9287, matskg@polymer.kth.se)

GC-MS: GCQ
The GCQ is a GC-MS system from Finnigan, consisting of a gas-chromatography unit (Finnigan GC) and a mass spectrometer (Polaris Q). The software used to control the system is Xcalibur version 1.2. The instrument also uses the NIST MS search software to identify spectra from unknown substances by comparing them to spectra included in the NIST reference library (NIST 98). The instrument is equipped with a Finnigan AS 9000 autosampler enabling automatic run of up to 100 samples in one sequence. The instrument can be used to separate and identify organic molecules that are volatile at 250^oC. One of its applications within polymer science is the identification of low molar mass species formed from polymers during aging.

Department operator needed, SEK 1000/h
Responsible persons: Mikael Gröning (phone: 08-790 8412, mikaelg@polymer.kth.se) and Guillaume Gallet (phone: 08-790 8276, gallet@polymer.kth.se)

GC. Varian 3400
Gas chromatography is the method of choice for the analysis of volatile organic compounds. The upper temperature limit is usually not greater than 350^oC, which means that the compounds to be analyzed must be volatile below this temperature. One of the great advantages of the gas chromatograph is its ability to rapidly detect and analyze extremely small quantities of compounds. GC is applicable for e.g. residual monomers, initiators, catalysts, some additives, and degradation products of polymers. It is generally not suited to analyze organic compounds of high molar mass or of low volatility. Care must be taken not to analyze reactive species, which may ruin column or other parts of the equipment. Proper sample preparation is necessary before GC analysis.

Department operator needed, SEK 1000/test - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Lina Emilsson (phone: 08-790 8924, linae@polymer.kth.se)

Image analysis system
Northern Light Model B90 light table, Dage MTI 70 series camera; DTK 486-334 MHz.
With the Optimas we can measure the Hermann orientation function, and the angle of diffracted X-rays. The apparatuses belonging to Optimas are: a computer, a light table, an adapter from Parameter AB and a video camera.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 50/h excl. operator -additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Anders Backman (phone: 08-790 7637, andersb@polymer.kth.se

Injection moulding machine: Battenfeld Plus 250
Guiding unit: Unilog 1010. Accessoires: Different moulds. The machine is used for injection moulding of thermoplastic materials. The moulds available are for making test pieces for tensile and impact testing. Maximum clamplig forge is 25 ton.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 500/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Fredrik Hedin (phone: 08-790 6037, fredrik@polymer.kth.se)

IR Rheometer
This instrument can be used for measurements of chain orientation on sheared molten polymers. A novel rotational parallel plate rheometer has been constructed. It includes systems for the measurement of infrared dichroism during shear flow, shear stress and normal force. The apparatus can be used for measurements in the shear rate range from 0.05 s^-1 to 1000 s^-1 at temperatures between 20^oC and 300^oC.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 100/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Ulf Gedde (phone: 08-790 7640, gedde@polymer.kth.se

Knife Maker: LKB 7801B
Use of instrument: The use of the Knife Maker is to make glass knives for ultramicrotomy from sheet glass supplied in selected strips of preferably 25 to 38 mm width.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 75/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Bereket Neway (phone: 08-790 9417, bereket@polymer.kth.se)

LC
Instrument HPLC. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) instrument consists of a Perkin Elmer binary LC pump 250 fitted with an APEX 1 octadecyl, 3 micron 4.6 x 150 mm, column connected to a Perkin Elmer diode array detector 23; Perkin Elmer advanced LC sample processor (autosample) ISS 200 and OMEGA workstation chromatography handling system. The mobine phase used usually is acetonitrile and/or water. The instrument is used for detection of different types of additives (e.g. antioxidants), degradation products and etc.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 500/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Nadja Haider (phone: 08-790 8276, e-mail: nadja@polymer.kth.se)

Light scattering of polymers in solution

The department of Polymer Technology has three instruments with He-Ne lasers (633 nm) involved in measurement of classical Rayleigh light scattering: 1) Low Angler Laser Light Scattering (LALLS), Model K;X-6, Chromatix Inc. for measurement of weight average molecular weight (Mw) and second virial coefficient (A2). Since it measures light scattering at low angles at 3-7 deg. extrapolation to zero angle is unneccessary, however, a full Zimm plot is not obtained. 2) Multi angle laser light scattering (MALLS), Model Dawn F, Wyatt Corp. for measurement of Mw, A2 and ratio of gyration <Rg>. This instrument measures several angles simultaneously giving a full Zimm plot only by changing sample concentration. Both instruments 1) and 2) may be used stationary or as on line detectors for size exclusion chromatography (SEC, GPC), 3) In conjunction a He-Ne laser source instrument for differential refractive index (dn/dc) measurements used, Model KMX-16, Chromatix Inc.

Department operator needed, SEK 1000/h
Responsible person: Anders Wirsén (phone: 08-790 7627, e-mail: andrew@polymer.kth.se)

Microtome-rotational: Jung autocut

The microtime is used to prepare samples with a thickness between 0.5 and 60 mm for e.g. transmission IR spectroscopy. The samples are fastened to a moving sample holder and different types of knives can be used. The knife remains stationary during sectioning. Variables are the cutting speed, knife (rake) angle and section thickness. No regular service, except knife sharpening/polishing is needed, depending on usage of the instrument.

Possible to use without department operator, SEK 300/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Mikael Sandelin (phone: 08-790 6763, e-mail: sandelin@polymer.kth.se)

Microwave plasma reactor:V15-G reactor, Plasma-Finish GmbH

When a gas is supplied with sufficient energy it will form a plasma, the fourth state of matter, consisting of electrons, radicals and charged ions and other species. One way of creating a plasma is by exposing a gas at low pressure to an electromagnetic field. This results in a plasma with highly reactive species at a total system temperature close to room temperature. When a polymer is exposed to a plasma the surface is modified without changing the bulk properties. Surface activation (increased hydrophilcity) and cleaning are examples of reactions easily obtained by plasma treatment. One can also introduce reactive groups that can be used for initiation of graft polymerization at the surface. Such surfaces are in particular useful for biomedical applications. Plasma polymerization is another type of plasma where the introduced gas is a monomer that reacts with the surface and forms a polymer coating. Equipment for plasma polymerization is available at the Institute for Surface Chemistry, YKI (http://www.surfchem.kth.se) at KTH and at the Institute for Fiber and Polymer Research, IFP (http://www.ifp.se) outside Gothenburg. The plasma system at the department (room 360) is a Plasma SystemV15-G designed for plasma treatment of surfaces with gases like Ar, O₂, N₂ and H₂. The sample is placed in the treatment chamber (approximately 25 cm ^. 25 cm ^. 25 cm) and the gas is introduced at a predetermined flow under simultaneous evacuation. This results in a low pressure (normally 1-100 Pa), and when the pressure is stable a microwave field (2.45 GHz) of a certain power (0-300 W) is applied and a plasma is formed. The plasma parameters such as treatment time, power and flow rate/pressure can be programmed or adjusted manually. Main advantages: Modifies the surface without affecting the bulk phase. Modifies all polymers. Some modifications can only be obtained by plasma treatment. Clean process (no solvents, minimum of waste). Main disadvantages: Many simultaneous reactions make it difficult to obtain only one functional group. Process parameters different for different systems. Batch process. Must be carried out in vacuum. Do not use the instrument without proper instructions! If you have further questions, please contact the responsible person below.

Department operator needed, SEK 1200/h
Responsible person: Björn Olander (phone: 08-790 8272, e-mail: olander@polymer.kth.se)

Optical microscope Leitz Ortholux BKII including Mettler hot stage

With a visible light microscope it is possible to see objects as small as half a micrometer. By usage of crossed polarizers, there is a number of measurements that can be carried out. You may e.g. determine liquid crystal phases, or measure the growth rate of spherulites. You may also determine the birefringence of a material, use either the Michel-Levy chart, or the tilt compensator. It is also possible to study degradation etc. of samples. This can be done by simply looking at the object without polarizers. Light may come from the lamp house and in such cases the light transmits the object. If the sample is not transparent, light may come from an external light source. The light is then reflected into the objective. There is an oven, or a hot stage, which belongs to the microscope, and allows thermal studies. The accesoires to the microscope are: a hot stage, mettler FP 82 HT, and a central processor, Mettler FP 90, a screen, Sanyo, VMC7213B, a video, Panasonic AG-6200, a video camera, objectives and revolvers, filters, X-Y table etc., a tilt compensator, Leitz tilting compensator B, an object micrometer for length measurements and a camera.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 50/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Eugenia Nunez (phone: 08-790 8080, e-mail: eugenia@polymer.kth.se

Optical microscope: Leitz Ortholux equipped with an optical shear cell

Apparatus name: Optical microscope. Apparatus model: Leitz Ortholux equipped with an optical shear cell. This appratus consists of a parallel plate shear cell combined with a polarized microscope, Leitz Ortholux, which allows thin films of the material to be subjected to controlled shearing at elevated temperatures, while monitoring the transmitted light intensity or observing samples visually. The temperature is controlled within ±1^oC with a Eurotherm PID-regularor and is calibrated with standard organic melting substances in the 80-320^oC temperature range. Different shear rates between 4 and 1000 s^-1 can be controlled by a transmission nox.

Possible to run without department operator
Responsible person: Eugenia Nunez (phone: 08-790 8080, e-mail: eugenia@polymer.kth.se

Pyrolys-GC: Pyrola with Perkin-Elmer GC

Pyrolysis, in combination with gas chromatography and/or mass spectrometry, is used for analysis of non-volatile samples. The sample is degrated thermally in an inert atmosphere, GC is used for the separation of the pyrolysis products and mass spectrometry for the identification.

Department operator needed, SEK 3700/h
Responsible person: Stina Wallström (phone: 08-790 8276, e-mail: stina@polymer.kth.se)

Scanning electron microscope: JEOL 5400

The scanning electron microscope is equipped with a Polaroid camera for documentation. The instrument is used to provide information about the surface topography of polymer. An electron beam sweeps over the surface, yielding secondary and back scattered electrons, which are used to construct the image of the surface. Examples of applications are assessmentof the morphology of polymer blends, adhesion between a polymer matrix and the filler and surface erosion caused by ageing of the polymer.

Possible to run without department operator.
Responsible person: Andrew Horvath (phone: 08-790 7637, e-mail: horvath@polymer.kth.se

SEC-THF

Waters SEC system with a Model 510 solvent delivery system, WISP 710B automatic injector, three PL gel 10 mm mixed B columns from Polymer Labs and a Waters 410 differential refractometer as a detector. The temperature of the columns can be controlled with a Waters column oven. Calibration can be made using linear polystyrenes of known molecular weight and dispersity. The system is controlled and results analyzed with Waters Millennium 32 software.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 300/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Hans Claesson (phone: 08-790 9758, e-mail: hassec@polymer.kth.se)

Sputtering equipment: Desk II, Denton Vacuum

This instrument is used for coating samples with contucting compounds, e.g. gold. The main purpose is for SEM applications.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 300/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Mikael Hedenqvist (phone: 08-790 7645, e-mail: mikaelhe@polymer.kth.se)

Tensile testing machine: INSTRON 5566

Capabilities of equipment and accessoires: Frame dual column table-top frame 5566, range: up to 10 kN. Electromechanical drive: Crosshead speeds up to 0.01 mm/min - 500 mm/min. Software Merlin (Win 98 platform). Load cells: 100 N & 10 kN (high accuracy and wider range respectively). Extensometer: Non-contacting video extensometer/digital camera 2663-30x, 1 options by the use of 2 different lenses (w/different F.O.V: 50 mm & 200 mm) for monitoring purposes only, not suitable for controlling a channel when conducting a test in strain control! Grips: Pull-rod type Wedge action grips 30 kN (thicker and molded polymer specimens) - 73^oC to 248^oC. Pneumatic action grips 3 kN (polymer film and sheet specimens). Ambient temperature. High temperature pneumatic grips 100 N (paper to polymer specimens) -70^oC to +82^oC. Temperature chamber: ambient to 250^oC. Possibility to mount video extensometer for monitoring strain. Option for low temperature assembly and gases. Sample preparation: Manual punch device (supplied w/different shapes and sizes of knifes for tensile specimens) and injection molds (for tensile specimens) to the injection molding unit. Common applications: Mechanical characterization of most materials that may be deformed within limits of load frame and load cells and clamped with available grips. Stress-strain tests (constant deformation rate). At ambient and increased temperature. Young's modulus, yield limit and ultimate properties (visco-)elastic recovery. Relaxation tests (constant strain, monitoring stress decay). At ambient and increased temperature. Viscoelastic properties, i.e. relaxation modulus and relaxation time.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 500/h excl. operator -additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Andreas Krupicka (phone: 08-790 9752, e-mail: krupicka@polymer.kth.se)

Transmission Electron Microscope, TEM, Technai Series

The instrument is used for analysing morphology and crystal structure of most polymers. Specifically it is useful for analysing the morphology of polymer blends and the lamellar arrangement in semicrystalline polymers. The equipment consists of a main TEM unit which is basically unaltered from previous versions. New features are, however, a cold trap and a stage for tilting the sample. Because of the cold trap it is possible to analyse samples completely embedded in heat sensitive media. During viewing the heat sensitive medium will evaporate and the sample will be clearly visible. A CCD camera with a computer is attached to the equipment and it is now very easy to obtain good quality pictures in the computer and export them to e.g. MS Word. It is also possible to get electron diffraction patterns with the instrument.

Department operator needed, SEK 1200/h incl. operator
Responsible person: Anders Backman (phone: 08-790 7637, andersb@polymer.kth.se) 

Ultra-microtone: RMC

Accessory CT-X cryosectioning system. Use of instrument: The MT-XL ultramicrotome is designed to produce ultra thin sections for electron microscopy, as well as semi-thin and thick sections for light microscopy.

Department operator needed, SEK 1000 incl. operator
Responsible person: Bereket Neway (phone: 08-790 9417, e-mail: bereket@polymer.kth.se)

Ultrasonic extraction equipment

Ultrasonic extraction equipment: The ultrasonic bath Branson 2210 MTH (frequency of 47 kHz, power of 125 W) manufactured by Branson Ultrasonics BV, Soest, The Neherlands. Used for extraction of additives from the polymeric matrix, to clean different instruments.

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 1500/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Nadejzda Haider (phone: 08-790 8276, e-mail: nadja@polymer.kth.se)

X-ray scattering: Philips 1830 equipped with a Statton camera

In the x-ray chamber a high voltage is applied (ca 35 kV) and a small current of electrons (ca 35 mA) hit the anode. Since the anode is made of copper, light of specific wavelengths (1.54 Å) is directed into tube 1 (marked 1). A Ni-filter close to the shutter improves spectral purity. With a properly built instrument it is possible to see distances as large as - or larger than - the wavelength that the instrument uses. With the PW 1830740 we detect diffracted light from distances that are a few Ångström to tens of Ångström, e.g. we see the distance between liquid crystals (ca 4.5 Å) and distances between smectic layers in smectic liquid crystals (common layer distance: 30-40 Å). On running on polyethylene (PE), we detect two distances in the unit cell of the crystalline part of PE (ca 4 Å). To get a good signal, it is appropriate to run ca 2 h on a 2 mm thick PE sample, and 8 h on a 1 mm thick PE sample. It is possible to quantitatively measure the crystallinity, just by looking at the diffracted signal. A more crystalline sample has a more narrow, and sharp, signal. If you want to quantitatively measure the crystallinity, you may use the Optimal program, and look into the work by Torbjörn Lindberg. You may also measure orientation in a sample, by looking at the diffracted light from one plane. Use the Optimas program, and the Hermann orientation function (see Ulf W. Gedde's book Polymer Physics). Note that in the book by Gedde it is assumed that the material is uniaxial. For a more complex case you may have to look in a book on mathematical physics. The accessoires to the x-ray apparatus are: a homemade oven, controlled by a PID regulator. With the oven you may reach a few hundred centigrades. There is also a permanent magnet which may be used together with the oven. The magnetic field from the magnet is ca 0.2 T, which is normally too weak to have an impact on the measurement. A vacuum pump for pumping vacuum in the sample chamber, an old Si standard, a fluorescent screen for aligning of the x-ray apparatus, x-ray film, developer liquid and fixer liquid. regarding service etc. our contact person on Philips Industrial Electronics (08-632 2310) is Kenneth Eriksson (08-632 2000)

Possible to run without department operator, SEK 200/h excl. operator - additional SEK 700/h for operator.
Responsible person: Anders Backman (phone: 08-790 7637, e-mail: andersb@polymer.kth.se

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