Anton Paar Materials Characterization Lab (APMCL)

The recently established Anton Paar Materials Characterization Lab (APMCL) is a material characterization and analysis laboratory within the larger AMLCI Characterization and Imaging Facility. It is equipped with a series of precision instruments from Anton Paar Inc., including a highly versatile rheometer, viscometer, digital refractometer, a Raman spectrometer that can be interfaced with the rheometer for simultaneous data collection, polarimeter, solid surface zeta potential analyzer, and a microwave synthesizer. The APMCL, together with the other facilities in the AMLCI Characterization and Imaging Facility, enables students, scientists and engineers from both academia and industry to perform precise and reliable research on their projects.

Capabilities of the APMCL

Abbemat MW (Digital Refractometer)  

  • Enables quick and fully automatic measurements of the refractive index measuring wavelengths, e.g. for dispersion and Abbe number determination
  • Equipped with up to 8 different wavelengths in range of 435 nm to 656 nm
  • Characterization of:
  • Liquid immersion oils for microscopes
  • Acrylic glass, polycarbonates, Cycloolefine oligomers
  • Optical coatings and adhesives

ViscoQC 300-L (Viscometer)

  • Equipped with a viscosity range of 1 mPa.s to 6,000,000 mPa.s
  • Built-in 4 L spindles to measure low-viscosity samples
  • Peltier temperature control range of 15 °C to + 80 °C

Cora 5700 (Raman Spectrometer)

  • Quick and reliable identification of substances based on their unique chemical fingerprint
  • Equipped with a "dual-core Raman" option that gives two different wavelengths in one instrument 
  • Enables an autofocus feature to get the strongest signal for reproducible results

MCP 5500 (Polarimeter)

  • Equipped with an accuracy of <0.0020 °Optical Rotation
  • Peltier temperature control range from 10 °C to 45 °C
  • Built-in camera for visualization of sample filling inside the cell

SurPASS 3 (Solid Surface Analysis)

  • High-end electrokinetic analyzer for solid surface analysis
  • Fully automated zeta potential analysis on macroscopic solids
  • Automated detection of the isoelectric point
  • Time-dependent recording of liquid-on-solid adsorption kinetics

MCR 302 (Rheometer)

  • Equipped with a torque range from 0.5 nNm to 230 mNm and integrated active thermal management
  • Can measure at extreme temperatures from -160 °C to 1000 °C
  • Built-in trimming mirror to visualize a 360° view of the sample