PPG Industries Colloids, Polymers and Surfaces Laboratory

A unique part of the CPS Program is the PPG Industries Colloids, Polymers and Surfaces (CPS) Laboratory, which is used for instruction and as a central facility for research. The CPS Lab is an interdisciplinary facility that provides the capability for characterization of fine particles, macromolecules, interfaces and the complex fluids formed by combinations of these materials.

The 2200 sq. ft. facility is used for teaching and research. Lab courses in colloid and polymer characterization are offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The hands-on laboratory experience is accomplished using 35 experiments and demonstrations. CPS lab courses are offered every semester and have an average enrollment of 25-30 students per semester. CPS Lab personnel provide training for use of its facilities for about 50 students per year in addition to those formally enrolled in lab courses. These include undergraduate, MS and PhD students working on independent research projects representing most of the engineering and science departments at Carnegie Mellon .

Physical property measurement capabilities in the lab include surface and interfacial tension, particle sizing, contact angle, rheology, static and dynamic light scattering, membrane osmometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), UV-VIS spectrophotometry, mechanical property testing, conductivity, CMC determination, BET powder surface area, electrophoretic mobility of colloids and dynamic surface tension.

The laboratory is also used for outreach events that provide hands-on science experiences for K-12 students and teachers to promote science and engineering education to youth and the public.

PPG Industries CPS Laboratory Facilities

Colloid and Surface Characterization Equipment

• Quantasorb Surface Area Analyzer (Gas Adsorption)
• Cenco-Du Nouy Tensiometer
• Rame-Hart Contact Angle Goniometer
• Adsorptive Bubble Fractionation Apparatus
• Coulter Electronic Particle Counter, Model Z2
• Conductivity Meter
• Krüss Bubble Pressure Tensiometer
• Milton-Roy Spectrophotometer(Cary 300)
• Milton-Roy Spectronic 301 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
• Nanosurf EasyScan 2 Scanning Tunneling Microscope
• Brookhaven Zeta PALS
• Malvern Zeta Sizer 3000
• Malvern Zeta Sizer Nano
• Hach Turbidity Meter

Polymer Characterization Equipment

• Instron Tensile Tester
• Atlas Mini Molding Apparatus
• Brice-Phoenix Light Scattering Photometer
• Brookhaven Dynamic and Static Light Scattering Apparatus
• Kinematic Viscosity Apparatus
• Bohlin Instruments Gemini Advance Rheometer
• Brookfield Cone and Plate Viscometer
• Perkin-Elmer Differential Scanning Calorimeter
• Wescan Recording Membrane Osmometer

Complete Sample Prep Facilities

For details regarding consulting and equipment use contact:

Professor Annette Jacobson
CPS Program Director
jacobson@andrew.cmu.edu
412-268-2244

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