Dec. 09, 2011

JPK Introduces Software With Quantitative Imaging Capabilities For Challenging AFM Samples

JPK Instruments has introduced QI, a quantitative imaging mode for the recently launched NanoWizard 3 AFM system.
The software has been developed to make AFM imaging easier than ever before. With QI, a force curve-based imaging mode, the user has the full control over the tip-sample force at every pixel of the image. There is no need for setpoint or gain adjustment while scanning. moreMar. 12, 2010

Polyethylene as Heat-conducting Material

Most polymers are very good insulators for both heat and electricity. But an MIT team has found a way to transform the most widely used polymer, polyethylene, into a material that conducts heat just as well as most metals, yet remains an electrical insulator. The new process causes the polymer to conduct heat very efficiently in just one direction, unlike metals, which conduct equally well in all directions. This may make the new material especially useful for applications where it is important to draw heat away from an object, such as a computer processor chip. moreNov. 04, 2009

Fuel Cell Testing

Fuel cells are expected to play a major role in the future energy supply, especially polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells could become an integral part in future cars. Reduction of degradation of fuel cell performance while keeping fuel cell cost under control is the key for an introduction into mass markets.
moreNov. 03, 2009

Correlative AFM and TEM of Soft Material

We describe a comprehensive characterization of biological and polymer samples, when a particular organelle or macromolecule cluster is cut into two parts: One part is used for AFM and the other for TEM. Information about the microstructure of the sample (from TEM) in combination with the data on distribution, morphology and mechanical properties of macromolecular/chain content (from AFM) reveals new structural aspects going beyond the possibilities offered by AFM or TEM alone.

What is more valid: information obtained by eyes or by hand?
moreMar. 01, 2005

Fracture Behaviour of Polymers - In situ Investigations in the ESEM

Fracture Behaviour of Polymers - In situ Investigations in the ESEM. A tensile stage mounted in an ESEM allows the simultaneous recording of the stress–strain curves and the progress of crack propagation. Thus the global macroscopic values can be correlated with the evolution of features at the crack tip, strongly influenced by the microscopic structure of the material. more