Clark Atlanta University (CAU) has established a High Performance Polymers And Ceramics (HiPPAC) Research Center. The center consolidates and expands existing polymer and ceramic research capabilities through the development of interdepartmental and interinstitutional research anbd education clusters. To donduct basic and applied research in high performancepolymers and ceramics in the Center, major equipment and instrumentation are required. In this proposal we request funds to acquire a thermal analysis system to support research projectrs conducted in the HiPPAC Center. This instrumentation will provide the HiPPAC Center investigators with the ability to examine th conversion of preceramic materials to ceramic materials, and the characterization of ceramic materials, in addition to the ability to characterize high performance polymers. The growth in research and education programs in the materials area at CAU. and in particular expansion into the preceramic and ceramic area, necessitates the acquisition of a thermal analysis system- that includes a high temperature TG/DTA and DSC and TMA with programmable temperature conteol for below ambient conditions and higher operating temperatures and is capable of high throughput and state of the art diagnostic capabilities. The research projects that the thermal analysis system will support are part of CAU's strong commitment to enhance its overall development of research capabilities, strengthening minority faculty and student experiences, establishing interinstitutional research alliances with other HBCUs and major research universities, and strengtrhening its undergraduate and graduate science degree programs.
