High throughput microbalance and methods of using same
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for measurement of mass of small sample sizes. The method and apparatus is particularly adapted for providing microbalance measurement of solid materials as part of a combinatorial research program. The method and apparatus contemplate monitoring the response of a resonator holding a sample and correlating the response with mass change in the samples.
1. A method for measuring mass or mass change of materials, comprising the steps of:
(a) contacting a sample of the material with a region of a mechanical resonator, in which region the oscillation amplitude is relatively high and there is a relatively low stress field, in signaling communication with a source of an input signal, wherein the mechanical resonator is a tuning fork
(b) coupling the mechanical resonator with measurement hardware;
(c) exposing the sample to a change in environmental conditions while on the mechanical resonator, wherein the change in environmental condition includes a change of humidity;
(d) applying an input signal for oscillating the resonator at a frequency of less than about 1 MHz; and
(e) correlating a response of the mechanical resonator to a mass or a mass change of the sample thereon with the measurement hardware.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least the correlating step further comprises conducting thermogravimetric analysis.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is a bulk material in a commercial process.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the commercial process is an online-process.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is a polymer.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the sample is a polymer blend.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is a solid material.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is a fluid.
9. A method for measuring small quantities of materials, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a sample;
(b) applying a layer of adhesive to tips of a tuning fork resonator;
(c) placing the sample on the adhesive;
(d) coupling the resonator with measurement hardware;
(e) exposing the sample to a change in environmental conditions while on the mechanical resonator;
(f) applying an input signal for oscillating the resonator at a frequency of about 1 to about 100 kHz; and
(g) correlating a response of the resonator to a change in mass of said sample thereon with the measurement hardware.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the correlating step includes monitoring frequency of the circuit output voltage.
11. A method for measuring mass or mass change of materials, comprising the steps of:
(a) contacting a sample of the material with a region of a mechanical resonator, in which region the oscillation amplitude is relatively high and there is a relatively low stress field, in signaling communication with a source of an input signal, wherein the mechanical resonator is a tuning fork
(b) coupling the mechanical resonator with measurement hardware;
(c) applying an input signal for oscillating the resonator at a frequency of less than about 1 MHz; and
(d) correlating a response of the mechanical resonator to an absolute mass of the sample thereon with the measurement hardware.