Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/J35658/01
Title:	THERMAL MICROSCOPY OF POLYMERS
Principal Investigator:	Pollock, Dr H
Other Investigators:	Hourston, Professor DJ
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Physics
Organisation:	Lancaster University
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	28 March 1994	Ends:	27 March 1997	Value (£):	234,926
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Instrumentation Eng. & Dev.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
We plan to develop a scanning calorimetric microscope, combining many of the functions of microscopy and of differential scanning calorimetry in its new modulated version. This version has been shown to be capable of distinguishing reversible heat capacities due to phase transitions etc, from endotherms and exotherms associated with kinetically-controlled events such as recrystallisations, cure reactions or the loss of volatiles. The microscope would resolve differential thermal images on a scale of less than 100nm. Already well-characterised materials would be used in an assessment of the information given (by the images) on thermal diffusivity, melting temperature and degree of crystallinity, variations in Tg (and hence in composition) and heats of desorption from specific sites. We would then apply the technique to morphology studies of polymer blends and IPNs, and a film integration study. The microscope's other applications would include: distinguishing glassy from rubbery regions in multiphase materials; real-time phase separation studies; separation of reversing and non-reversing transitions in the microscope image; distinguishing degrees of crystallinity in different regions; mapping differences in thermal history; locating the evolution of volatiles; measuring heats of desorption at specific sites; spherulitic morphology investigations.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.lancs.ac.uk