| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M29986/01 |
| Title: |
THE DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF A MICRO-THERMAL ANALYSIS -MASS SPECTROSCOPY (MICRO-TA-MS)INSTRUMENT |
| Principal Investigator: |
Hourston, Professor DJ |
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| Department: |
Materials |
| Organisation: |
Loughborough University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 April 1999 |
Ends: |
31 March 2001 |
Value (£): |
132,089
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Instrumentation Eng. & Dev. |
Materials Characterisation |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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A new technique, micro-Thermal Analysis, based on a modified atomic force microscope, has been created. It can image materials on the basis of their thermal properties (conductivity and diffusivity) and provide 3D structural information through non-destructive depth profiling. It can also characterise the physical properties of a sample through local micro-thermal analysis at any point on a surface. We seek to extend the capabilities of this technique by coupling it to a mass spectrometer and to a GC-MS instrument, thus enabling it also to provide chemical information from the analysis of the highly localised desorption/pyrolysis products. The micro-TA instrument has a proven ability to inject sufficient energy into a local area to cause pyrolysis in polymers. The amount of material evolved is easily within the detection limits of modern mass spectrometers and even GC-MS equipment. An interface will be developed that enables these two instruments to be coupled. Software will be written to implement a variety of sampling modes and methods of analysis. The sensitivity of these modes will be established using model systems. In the final phase of the project, the new technique will be applied to a variety of 'real world' problems that cannot be satisfactorily addressed by existing methods.
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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.lboro.ac.uk |