The project involves implementing polymer characterization by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) into the chemistry program. The use of GPC and DSC provides essential information to enhance student understanding of the properties of polymers. GPC yields polymer molecular weight and DSC provides thermal properties of polymers. The labs affected by these instruments include polymer, organic, physical-inorganic, and instrumental chemistry. In the polymer lab, polymerizations are being performed with subsequent characterization. Other experiments include polymer fractionation, polymer blend miscibility, and annealing studies. In the organic chemistry lab, molecular weight and thermal characterization of polyethylene terephthalate and nylon 6,10 are being conducted. The integrated physical-inorganic lab utilizes GPC to measure the molecular weight of an inorganic polymer and DSC to obtain enthalpy values corresponding to ligand strength in inorganic complexes. The instrumental lab is being updated by employing DSC in thermometric titrimetry.
