A materialistic world

2006

YEAR BOOK

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Athlone Institute of Technology

Clement Higginbothom, Breda Lynch & Paul Tomkins

A materialistic world

'"T'he Centre for Nanotechnology and Materials Research (CNMR), is located in the former Polymer Development Centre (PDC), an 18,000 sq ft building located adjacent to the Athlone IT East Campus.

The Centre offers a Contract Analytical and Physical Testing Service to industry in addition to providing a tailored research capability for the region and beyond. Among the services that the Centre provides are extensive surface and thermal investigation in the form of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Micro-Thermal Analysis ((J.TA). The AFM provides pictures of atoms on or in surfaces and is used to solve processing and materials problems in a wide range of technologies affecting the electronics, telecommunications, biological, chemical, automotive, aerospace, and energy industries. The materials that can be investigated include thin and thick film coatings, ceramics, composites, glasses, synthetic and biological membranes, metals, polymers, and semi�conductors. An AFM produces images of materials at the nanoscale level and provides a true three-dimensional surface profile.

The image presented above shows an AFM scan of the active pharmaceutical ingredient Carvedilol (highlighted B) dispersed in a polyethylene oxide carrier polymer (highlighted A). The image is obtained as a result of the different frictional properties of the polymer and active ingredient.

Micro-thermal analysis combines the imaging capabilities of the atomic force microscope with the ability to perform localized thermal analysis (calorimetry and thennomechanical measurements). This affords a means of physical characterization of different areas of a specimen by their thermal properties (e.g. melting point or softening temperature).

The CNMR hosts an extensive analytical laboratory, microfabrication facilities, clean rooms, a polymer processing hall, physical and mechanical testing laboratory and support infrastructure. Ms Breda Lynch can provide further information on contract services accessible in the CNMR.

Among the services that the Centre provides for industry are:

� High Pressure Liquid Chromatography

� Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy

� Fourier Transform Infra-Red Microscopy
(including microscope analysis of foreign bodies and other contamination sources in materials)

� Gel Permeation Chromatography

� % Moisture - Karl Fischer Coulometry

� Differential Scanning Calorimetry
(including Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry)

� Thermogravimetric Analysis

� Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis

� Digital Imaging Microscopy

� Overall and Specific Migration in'food and pharmaceutical packaging

� Rheometry

� Atomic Force Microscopy

� Micro-Thermal Analysis

In addition to this, the CNMR possesses probably the most extensive and inclusive polymer/materials processing facilities in Ireland.

Polymer and Biomedical Research in the CNMR

Working in collaboration with the CBBR and other centres, the CNMR also engages in largely near-to-market research in the polymer and biomedical areas and current research projects include the following:

� The use of agar as a novel filler for monolithic drug delivery matrices produced using hot melt extrusion

� Development of smart polymer systems for novel drug delivery applications

� Development of ophthalmic lenses with novel and innovative visual properties

� Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable elastomers for industry application

� Development of multifunctional coating systems for the medical device industry

� Development of novel conducting polymeric systems

� The thermal management of conformal cooling within rapid tools

� A thermal management approach to conformal cooling within the blow moulding industry

� Development of polymeric synthetic skin for application to biomedical training

� Investigation of novel methods for recycling extrudates

� Application of nanoparticle fabrication to the healthcare industry

� Application of process moulding and extrusion technology to food manufacture.

The above projects have been funded by the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnership Grant Scheme (funding for collaborative projects between Athlone IT and an Industrial Partner), Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund, and the Council of Directors for IoTs, Strands I and III.

Contact: Dr Clement L. Higginbotham, Director of Polymer and Biomaterial Research, CNMR E-mail: [email protected]
Breda Lynch, Manager, CNMR E-mail: [email protected]
Dr Paul Tomkins, Head of School of Science, Athlone IT, E-mail: [email protected]
Centre for Nanotechnology and Materials Research, IDA Business & Technology Park, Athlone Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Tel: 353 (0) 90 6424400
Web: http://www.ait.ie/cnmr/index.shtml