The official opening took place on January 18, 2012 in the Center's building in Gliwice and was accompanied by a scientific and practical seminar on microscopic techniques.
The seminar was attended by over 40 people representing national scientific facilities dealing with materials testing. The seminar was opened by Prof. Andrzej Dworak – director of CMPW PAN.
During the scientific part, two lectures were presented:
Prof. Jerzy Morgiel from the Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of PAN in Kraków – “Application of Transmission Microscopy in Testing Nano-structural Materials”
Prof. Andrzej Gałęski from the Center of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies of PAN in Lodz – “Physical structure of polymers, polymer mixtures, polymer composites and nanocomposites”.
In the lectures, advantages were presented of electron and atomic force microscopy, with special consideration of requirements regarding the preparation of polymer materials for the purposes of the described microscopic techniques.
During the practical part of the meeting Seminar participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the equipment in the Center's microscope laboratory, while application specialists from Labsoft and FEI Company presented special testing methods used for the imaging of polymer materials. They characterized the MultiMode NanoScope 3D and MultiMode 8 atomic force microscopes, discussed their basic working modes and the possibilities for their applying in the analysis of polymers in aqueous solutions. Moreover, they presented the ESEM Quanta 250 FEG environmental scanning microscope, as well as the principle of operation and testing capabilities of a detector for transmitted electrons (WetSTEM) used for testing thin foils, gels or aqueous solutions in extended low vacuum conditions (ESEM). With regard to the Tecnai G2 F20 TWIN transmission microscope, a detailed presentation was made regarding the preparation of hydrated samples through vitrification as well as the Cryo-TEM method using vitrified samples.
Labsoft representatives also demonstrated to the participants of the Seminar the recently introduced Phenom G2 pro desktop scanning electron microscope. The meeting, whose purpose was to familiarize the participants with the latest scientific achievements in the field of structural tests on nanomaterials and with a new generation of imaging equipment, served as an opportunity to directly exchange views on topics related to testing materials, mainly polymer ones.
The Imaging Laboratory of the Center of Polymer and Carbon Materials of PAN is open to cooperation with scientific and research facilities as well as companies in the field of microscopic material testing, while team members offer consults and will gladly advise on microscopic material testing.
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS CLOSED
Meeting agenda
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Opening of a cryogenic microscope laboratory for testing polymer and carbon materials at the Center of Polymer and Carbon Materials of the Polish Academy of Sciences
9.00 Meeting inauguration
9.10 Application of transmission microscopy in testing nano-structural materials
10.10 Physical structure of polymers, polymer mixtures, polymer composites and nanocomposites
11.10 Break
11.30 Presentation of the MultiMode NanoScope 3D atomic force microscope installed at the Center and of the MultiMode 8 (presentation by Bruker)
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Presentation of ESEM Quanta 250 FEG and TEM Tecnai G2 F20 TWIN electron microscopes
installed at the Center of Polymer and Carbon Materials of PAN
16.30 Presentation of microscope laboratories
17.00 End of meeting
