9625861 Martin This award will support the acquisition of a comprehensive dynamic thermal analysis system for materials characterization. The system will include five (5) modules for high-sensitivity differential scanning colorimeter (DSC), a high-temperature DSC, a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), a thermal mechanical analyzer (TMA), and a dielectric thermal analyzer (DEA), controlled through a central multi- tasking UNIX based computer controller. The combined units will provide thermal characterization for materials not currently available. All types of materials, ranging from inorganic chalcogenide glasses to intermetallic compounds to low-temperature glasses, organic polymers, and glass-polymer melt blends, will be studied. %%% This instrumentation will add needed capability at Iowa State University for use in new materials synthesis, processing, and characterization, important for obtaining information on processing dependent properties, and their chemical and phase purity.
