Profile

The UO Polymer Characterization and Thermal Analysis Laboratory is concerned with the synthesis, characterization, and processing of polymers and polymer composites at both basic and applied levels. The laboratory is fully equipped for polymer synthesis and determining the processing behavior and thermal and mechanical properties of polymeric materials as well as polymer molecular weights, molecular weight distributions, and compositions. The goal typically is to design mew materials and understand and improve the processing and performance of these materials for various applications. For this reason the characterization is linked to the parameters that are related to the most desirable properties of the material such as modulus, strength, impermeability, toughness, thermal expansion, optical properties, viscosity and the like.

The laboratory has a dual role as a teaching lab and resource for the Department of Chemistry and The Materials Science Institute as well as a resource center for Industry under auspices of CAMCOR. The laboratory also is involved in research sponsored by both Government and Industry.