Research characterizing polymer-surfactant systems at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has been given a boost recently in the form of several new pieces of equipment from Brookhaven Instruments. Michael KC Tam, Professor at the School of Mechanical and Production Engineering, explained, “Our research focuses on the microscopic and macroscopic properties of self-assembly systems, such as block copolymers, associative polymers and surfactants, which have potential applications in enhanced drug release, gene therapy and environmentally friendly coating systems.”
“Part of our work involves synthesizing polymers using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and examining their physical characteristics using static and dynamic light scattering, for which we have used a Brookhaven Instruments BI-200SM Research Goniometer with BI-9000AT Autocorrelator for many years. With the recent purchase of our new instruments, including a ZetaPlus Zeta Potential Analyzer and a BI-MwA Molecular Weight Analyzer, we can perform much more detailed molecular analysis on these complex systems. The instruments are very easy to use and we can now do so much more than before.”
Professor Tam concluded: “I have always been pleased with Brookhaven’s technical support. Bruce Weiner, the MD of Brookhaven, is well versed in optical theory and has taught us how to get the most from the instruments.”
Instruments: