Research equipment

SYNTHESIS

Vacuum reactor (FOURNÉ)
Designed for the synthesis of polyester homo- and copolymers and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) by melt polycondensation; reactor capacity 2 liters


STRUCTURAL STUDIES

FTIR spectrophotometer Bruker Alpha (BRUKER)
Equipped with ATR, transmission and drift attachments, allows to perform spectra for liquids and solid substances in the form of films, granules, powders, tablets

Jasco V630 UV-VIS spectrophotometer (Jasco)
Two-beam spectrophotometer equipped with temperature adapter for measurements at constant temperature or with temperature gradient and "one drop" microsampling attachment

Prominence HPLC system with UV-VIS and RID detectors (Shimadzu)
Apparatus used for quantitative and qualitative studies of low molecular weight compounds and for determining molecular weights of water-soluble polymers (in the current configuration of the apparatus).
High performance liquid chromatograph with gradient formation on the low pressure side. The apparatus is equipped with a CBM-20Alite controller, an LC-20AT pump, a valve for 4-component gradient formation on the low pressure side, a gradient mixer (volumes of 0.5; 1.7 and 2.6 ml), a DGU-20A3R three-channel degasser, a CTO-20AC thermostat for 6 30 cm columns, a SIL-10AF autosampler, and two detectors: a SPD-20A UV-VIS detector: 2 wavelengths in the range 190-700 nm, noise level 0.5x10-5 AU, drift 1.0x10-4 AU/h, measuring cell volume 12 µl, optical path length 10 mm, maximum pressure 12 MPa, data acquisition rate 100 Hz, programmable recording of UV-VIS spectrum under stopped-flow conditions, and refractometer detector RID-20. Two columns are available for the study:  Kinetex 5u XB-C18 100A 250 x 4.6 mm or PolySep-GFC-P Linear 300 x 7.8 mm. Two software programs are available for handling and processing results: LabSolutions (v. 5.51) and for GPC Postrun (LabSol).

Zetasizer Nano-ZS analyzer (Malvern)
The measurement is based on Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) technology. It allows the measurement of quantities that characterize molecules in liquid dispersions: particle size from 1nm to 6µm and zeta potential.


THERMAL ANALYSIS

Differential Scanning Calorimeter DSC 2500 (TA Instruments)
for thermal characterization of polymeric materials in the range -180 to 550°C, equipped with a microscope for sample observation during the measurement and UV attachment (Omnicure), TRIOS software for data analysis.

Dynamic Thermomechanical Analyzer DMA Q800 (TA Instruments)
For measurement of changes in thermomechanical properties of materials in the temperature range
from 150 to +600°C by bending, dual cantilever, single cantilever, tension, compression.


MECHANICAL TESTING

Universal testing machine with a high-temperature chamber 3366 (INSTRON)

temperature range from -150 to 300 oC.
Assessment of mechanical properties of materials in tension, 3-point bending, compression. Measuring heads 500N and 10 kN.

Fatigue machine with environmental chamber ElektroPlus E3000 (INSTRON)
for testing mechanical properties of materials during cyclic loading
force range up to 200N
testing in liquids in temperature range up to 50°C


PROCESSING

Hydraulic press (Remi-Plast)
for pressing and thermoforming polymeric materials
Shelves 300x300 mm, electrically heated, temperature range up to 250°C

Twin-screw extruder (borrowed) (ZAMAK)
Two co-rotating screw, diameter (D) 12 mm, length (L) 264mm; L/D=22
3 heating zones, Batch min. 25cm3 (30g), capacity 2 kg/ h PVC
Temp max. 400°C, Speed max. 400 r/min,

Vacuum forming machine (MAYKU)
Vacuum forming of PS, PET film products
Shelf size A4

Electrospinning system
Electrospinning is a method to obtain nanofibers with a diameter of several hundred nanometers from a polymer solution using an electric field. The kit consists of a high voltage generator up to 30kV, grounded collectors of various shapes and sizes (made of aluminum and copper) and a syringe placed in the pump dosing polymer solution, the injection needle connected to the syringe is a spinning nozzle, to which an electric voltage is applied.

Laurell Spin Coater WS650HZB-23NPP/UD3 (Laurell Technologies Corporation)
A device used to coat flat surfaces with a thin, uniform polymer film.
Bowl-shaped process chamber 9.5" (241 mm) in diameter, up to 6" (~150 mm) or 5" (~125 mm) wafer diameter possible, speed: up to 12,000 RPM (depending on substrate size), acceleration: up to 13,000 RPM with standard chuck (in 1 RPM increments).

3D printer Anycubic i3 Mega (ANTYCUBIC)
It is designed for forming spatial models in FDM technology from thermoplastics - primarily PLA.  Operating parameters of the machine:
- print space: 210 x 210 x 205 mm
- number of nozzles: 1
- nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm
- filament diameter: 1.75 mm
- layer thickness: 0,09-0,39 mm
- printing speed: up to 100 mm /s
- accuracy of positioning in X/Y axis: 0.012mm
- Z-axis positioning accuracy: 0.004mm
- input format of 3D file:  G-code, .stl

Zortrax M200 3D Printer (Zortrax)
It is designed to form spatial models in FDM technology from thermoplastics - primarily PLA, ABS, HIPS, PETG, PC/ABS. Operating parameters of the machine:
- print space: 200 x 200 x 180 mm
- number of nozzles: 1
- nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm
- filament diameter:  1.75 mm
- layer thickness: 0,09-0,39 mm
- 3D file input format:    Z-code, stl, .obj, .dxf, .3mf

3D printer Anycubic Photon-5.5 (ANTYCUBIC)
It is designed to form spatial models in SLA technology from UV-curable reactive resins with a wavelength of 405 nm.  Operating parameters of the machine:
- print space: 115mm x 65mm x 155mm
- resolution in the printing plane (XY):    47 μm (2560*1440 LCD mask points)
- Z axis accuracy: 1.25 μm
- layer thickness:   25 - 100 μm
- printing speed in Z direction: 20mm/hour
- 3D file input format:        G-code,.stl

GIX Microplotter Desktop (SonoPlot)
An apparatus allowing for microscale printing of a wide range of materials with viscosities between 1-450 cP. Print a variety of shapes including droplet, continuous line, arc with sizes in the range of 20-50 microns The system uses controlled ultrasound to dispense fluid in picoliters in a manner similar to a pen plotter.


REOLOGY

Brookfield Rheometer DV3T RV (AMETEK BROOKFIELD)
Apparatus for measuring the viscosity of liquids in a measuring system of the "cone - plate" type
Sample volume: 0.5 ml; measuring temperature range: 5 - 80°C, speed range: 0.01 - 250 rpm
cone type and viscosity range : CPA 40Z - 1-32K cP, CPA 51Z - 20-512K cP, CPA 52Z - 39-982K cP

Melt Flow Index MFI (CEAST)
for the determination of the material flow rate, temperature up to 300°C, load 250 N (graded according to PN ISO)


BIOLOGICAL TESTS

Glove box (LABCONCO)
Designed for working in a "clean" controlled atmosphere with materials that are sensitive to contamination or that require an inert gas (argon) or moisture-free atmosphere, such as materials for medical applications.

Telstar BioII Advanced laminar flow cabinets (Telstar Technologies)
In the microbiology laboratory, materials can be subjected to biological and microbiological testing under sterile conditions in laminar chambers.
Chamber size: width 130 or 200 cm, depth 76 cm.

FORMA Series II Water Jacket CO2 Incubator (Thermo Scientific)
Used for cell culture under sterile conditions.

MICROSCOPES
 
Leica DMi8 Fluorescence Microscope (Leica)
Automated inverted microscope for transmitted light and fluorescence observations, equipped with a LEICA DFC7000 GT digital camera and a set of typical fluorescence filters: DAPI, GFP, Cy3 and Cy5. A Leica EL6000 fluorescence light generator equipped with a mercury lamp is used to excite the fluorescence. The microscope is operated using Leica Application Suite (LAS X) software.

Inverted Microscope DELTA Optical IB100 (Delta Optical)
Inverted biological microscope for bright field and phase contrast observation, used in biological and microbiological research, for cell culture observation.
Equipped with a camera for image recording.

Leica S9i Stereo Microscope (Leica)
The microscope has a built-in 9:1 zoom system for magnifications of 6.1x - 55x, using 10x eyepieces, without additional objectives. Continuous magnification over the entire range is possible, as well as step - click-stop positions at 6.1x, 10x, 20x, 30x, 40x, 50x and 55x magnification. The Fusion Optics technology used, allows a depth of field of up to 12mm. Apochromatic optics. The 35° tilt of the objective tube and 122 mm working distance allow for comfortable working. The resolution of up to 250 lines / mm allows very accurate reproduction of details. The camera has a Leica 10Mpx camera integrated into the microscope.

Nikon Eclipse E600 Optical Microscope (Nikon)
The microscope is equipped with a camera for capturing images. The equipment includes polarizing filters.

 

OTHER

Dymax BluWave LED Prime UVA
The device is used for the photocrosslinking of prepolymers under the influence of UVA radiation (385nm) with the possibility to adjust the intensity from 0 to 100% (>15 W/cm2) using a LED diode placed on a cable with a diameter of 5mm.

Henniker Plasma HPT100 (Henniker Plasma)
Used for low pressure plasma treatment (cleaning, preparation and modification) of a wide range of materials including metals, glass, polymers, ceramics, plastics and composites, including microscope specimen cleaning, optics cleaning, metal cleaning, biomedical applications. Gases used include, for example, air, argon, nitrogen.

Lyophilizer Alpha 1-2 LD plus (Martin Christ)
Small, powerful lyophilizer for routine applications. Equipped with 8 rubber flask valves and 3 unheated shelves (200 mm diameter) for drying in vessels.

Centrifuge MPW-223e (MPW Med. Instruments)
Laboratory centrifuge, 300 ÷ 4000 rpm, adjustable rotation time.

Ultrasonic chamber UP200S (Hielscher)
Used for effective dispersion, emulsification, homogenization of substances.
The volume of the sonicated liquid can be from 0.1 to 1000ml.
Technical parameters: power 200W, frequency 24kHz, amplitude 20-100%, cycle 0-1.

Goniometer DSA100 KRÜSS (KRÜSS)
Fully automatic measuring system for determination of contact angle, surface free energy of solids and surface / interfacial tension of liquids. Software-controlled instrument for creating measurement routines.

Demineralizer HLP Smart (HYDROLAB)
Device for purifying tap or pre-treated water.
Water with conductivity of 0,055 µS/cm is obtained directly from the system: PN-EN ISO 3696:1999, ASTM, CLSI, FP IX. Such water can be used for instrumental analyses AAS, ICP/MS, IC, HPLC, GC. The HLP demineralizer is equipped with a microprocessor-based control and measurement system that directs the demineralization process.