Hoang Dat Tien, Yang Jaesung, Paeng Keewook, Kwon Youngah, Kweon Oh Sang, Kaufman Laura J
Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA.
Rev Sci Instrum. 2016 Jan;87(1):015106. doi: 10.1063/1.4939669.
Polymer processing techniques involving solvent vapor swelling are typically challenging to control and thus reproduce. Moreover, traditional descriptions of solvent swollen films lack microscopic detail. We describe the design and use of an apparatus that facilitates macroscopic and microscopic characterization of samples undergoing solvent vapor swelling in a controlled environment. The experimental design incorporates three critical characteristics: (1) a mass-flow controlled solvent vapor delivery system allows for precise control of the amount of solvent vapor delivered to the sample, (2) a sample prepared on a quartz crystal microbalance allows for real-time assessment of the extent of sample swelling, (3) a second sample prepared and assessed in parallel on a coverslip allows real-time fluorescence microscopy during swelling. We demonstrate that this apparatus allows for single-particle tracking, which in turn facilitates in situ monitoring of local environments within the solvent-swollen film.
涉及溶剂蒸汽溶胀的聚合物加工技术通常难以控制，因而难以重现。此外，传统上对溶剂溶胀膜的描述缺乏微观细节。我们描述了一种装置的设计与应用，该装置有助于在可控环境中对经历溶剂蒸汽溶胀的样品进行宏观和微观表征。实验设计包含三个关键特性：（1）质量流量控制的溶剂蒸汽输送系统可精确控制输送至样品的溶剂蒸汽量；（2）在石英晶体微天平上制备的样品可实时评估样品的溶胀程度；（3）在盖玻片上平行制备和评估的另一个样品可在溶胀过程中进行实时荧光显微镜观察。我们证明，该装置可实现单粒子追踪，进而有助于对溶剂溶胀膜内的局部环境进行原位监测。
