Advanced Polymer Materials Section

We work with modern equipment for advanced thermal, thermomechanical and microscopic analysis.

DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimeter) – Discovery DSC 2500 LN, TA Instruments – a differential scanning calorimeter enabling direct measurement of heat flow and temperatures of physicochemical transitions of materials in the range of (-180) – (+300)°C using patented Tzero™ technology:

glass transition temperature (Tg),

melting point, crystallisation point, polymorphism,

heat capacity Cp,

determination of enthalpy ΔH of endothermic and exothermic reactions,

Thanks to the use of temperature modulation technology (MDSC®), it is possible to separate overlapping effects and distinguish between reversible and irreversible changes.

DMTA (Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analyser) – Discovery DMTA 850, TA Instruments – a dynamic thermomechanical analyser that allows testing in a wide temperature range
(-150°C)-(+600°C), in the force range from 0.1mN to 18N in oscillation in the frequency range of 0.001-200Hz. The device allows for analysis in a wide range of mechanical deformations:

bending of samples in a single and dual cantilever system with samples fixed at the ends,

with low-friction support at both ends, known as three-point bending,

– stretching fibres, films and flat products,
– shearing,
– compression,
– analysis of powders in a cuvette in a dual cantilever system,
– softening point analysis;

The advanced Keyence VHX-X1 digital microscope with lenses ranging from 5-50x macro to 2500-6000x for detailed analytical applications with advanced profiling function, including the determination of characteristic roughness parameters (Ra, Rz, Sa, Sz), equipped with fully compatible attachments: heating/cooling (Linkam) operating in the range (-196°C)-(+420°C) and a fluorescence adapter (Nightsea) – excitation range 360-540 nm;

Phrozen Sonic 4K 2022 – a DLP 3D printer based on liquid photopolymer resins;

Zmorph – FDM 3D printer.

Research into selected properties of coating materials (paints and varnishes):

Gloss based on PN-EN ISO 2813 standard,

Hardness: Persoza and Koniga based on PN-EN ISO 1522 and pencil based on PN-EN 13523-4,

Impact resistance based on the falling weight method according to PN-EN ISO 6272-1,

Abrasion resistance based on the abrasive paper disc method according to PN-EN ISO 7784-2 and the Taber method according to PN-EN ISO 5470-1.

Scratch resistance based on PN-EN ISO 1518 standards,

Water resistance based on the Łukasiewicz – ICI own method based on PN 76 C-81521 and assessment according to PN-EN ISO 4628-2,

Adhesion – Cross-cut method based on PN-EN ISO 2409,

Flexibility based on bending test according to PN-EN ISO 1519,

Wetting angle, drop placement, surface free energy and surface tension of liquids (Kruss goniometer),

Thickness based on the acoustic method according to PN-EN ISO 2808,

Compressibility based on PN-EN ISO 1520 standard.

Other research methods:

• Minimum coating formation temperature (MTTF) based on standard PN-90/C-89415 (RHOPOINT Instruments MTTF-90),
• Dry residue – Łukasiewicz – ICI own method,
• Mechanical stability of aqueous dispersions and suspensions in a laboratory centrifuge at several temperatures, range (+5 °C )-(+40°C),
• Viscosity: as a function of shear rate or temperature (Kinexus rheometer)
• Viscosity measured with a Brookfield rotational viscometer,
• Viscosity measured using a flow cup based on PN-81/C-81508,
• Ściekalność w oparciu o normę PN-80/C 81539, rozlewność w oparciu o normę PN-89/C 81507,
• Particle size and assessment of the distribution of these sizes (polydispersity) in the range from 5 nm to 5 μm (Malvern apparatus),
• Measurement of the electrokinetic zeta potential (ζ) of particles (Malvern apparatus).