4D Rheo-SANS Sample Environment for Soft Matter, Biology and Materials Processing
- STF Technologies LLC
- university of delaware
The US scientific and industrial research communities in the broad areas of soft matter, i.e., polymers, complex fluids, nano and colloidal solutions, coatings and inks, and biological materials, i.e., drug delivery, hydrogels, tissue engineering, need, but lack, the ability to effectively study these important materials under flow conditions. Shear fields are widely used to process and control material nano and microstructure as well as a method to characterize such structures, and hence are widely applicable to the manufacturing of the soft matter based products highlighted above. The 4D Rheo-SANS Sample Environment developed in Phase I has the potential to greatly increase the US scientific measurement capability for soft materials under shear from its current level of multiple, separate 2D measurements to being able to measure the full 3D structure with enhanced time resolution (+1D-> 4D). This new instrumentation has the potential to greatly enhance the measurement capabilities at DOE funded facilities such as the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) as well as other leading US scientific research facilities, such as the NIST Center for Neutron Research. In Phase I we successfully developed the first, true Rheo-SANS instrument for accessing all three planes of flow with time resolution. This sample environment is based on a world-leading stress-controlled rheometer with exceptional rheological performance that is suitable for Phase II developing to meet neutron scattering requirements. The specific objective of Phase I, which was achieved, was to develop and evaluate a minimum viable prototypes (MVP) based on adapting a commercial mechanical gear drive. This MVP was evaluated for its rheological accuracy, precision, and suitability for use in a neutron scattering environment. Learnings achieved along the development path are also documented in this report for use in Phase II development and commercialization. Consultation with a leading rheology manufacturer and prior commercialization partner, as well as sample environment engineers and scientists at leading US neutron scattering facilities helped enable this development.
- Research Organization:
- STF Technologies LLC
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0019595
- OSTI ID:
- 1576200
- Type / Phase:
- STTR (Phase I)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-STF-19595
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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