Rheometry in the Undergraduate Polymer Science.

The Department of Chemistry is acquiring rheometry equipment for the development of the undergraduate polymer science laboratory courses. Students in the polymer science course are using the equipment to measure the influence of antioxidants in the cross-linking of rubber and flow activation parameters in polyethylenes. The equipment is being used in numerous undergraduate research projects including the characterization of poly(arylene ether)s and the degradation of vinylidene chloride oligomers.