| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/K85513/01 |
| Title: |
DETERMINATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF POLYMERIC SURFACES USING ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY AND COMPUTER SIMULATION |
| Principal Investigator: |
Hanna, Dr S |
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| Department: |
Physics |
| Organisation: |
University of Bristol |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 1997 |
Ends: |
31 December 2000 |
Value (£): |
221,607
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The aim of the project is to develop a method for determining the surface structures of polymer crystals, using a combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and computer simulations. Methods of sample preparation will be refined so we can routinely obtain sub-molecular resolution of polymer surfaces using the AFM. Computer models and simulated AFM images will be used to identify which crystal faces are being imaged, and to correlate the experimentally observed features with the polymer crystal at an atomic level. Molecular dynamics simulations will be used to identify under what conditions surface reconstruction may occur, and to examine the interaction of the polymer surface with different types of AFM tip, while the height of the tip is varied. This will be taken to the extreme to study energy dissipation and deformation under large forces with a view to simulating methods of data storage and microfabrication. The samples to be examined will consist of linear crystalline polymers, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polyoxymethylene. However, we also intend to examine systems undergoing phase transitions, e.g. poly-1-butene or polytetrafluoreothylene, in order to compare the behaviour of the surface with the known behaviour of the bulk.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bris.ac.uk |