Linear Reciprocating Tribometer for In Situ Neutron Reflectometry of Soft Matter

IF 3.3 3区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

Tribology Letters Pub Date : 2025-07-29 DOI:10.1007/s11249-025-02049-1

Kathryn E. Shaffer, Brendan Louie Bagorio, Ahmed Al Kindi, Julia J. Ong, Andrew R. Rhode, Erik B. Watkins, Rebecca J. L. Welbourn, Roger Pynn, Juan Manuel Urueña, Angela A. Pitenis

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Abstract

Neutron reflectometry is a technique for measuring structure near planar interfaces that has been previously used to non-destructively characterize the polymer density of hydrated, dilute, and soft materials. Previous investigations have conducted neutron reflectometry measurements of liquids, gels, emulsion, and polymer solutions at rest, in compression, and subject to shear stress. However, correlating structure with tribological properties of soft materials presents significant experimental challenges for prior instruments due to wall slip, sample thickness, and structural heterogeneity (e.g., depth-wise gradients). A linear reciprocating tribometer offers several advantages for in situ neutron reflectometry studies, including uniform velocity profiles, constant shear stress over large regions of interest, and independent control of normal force and sliding velocity during measurements. This work outlines basic considerations for the design of a custom linear reciprocating tribometer that operates in a neutron beamline and includes commissioning measurements. The tribometer is designed to compress soft and hydrated materials against linearly reciprocating silicon disks. The three key design considerations for this tribometer are (1) safety, (2) neutron transmission, and (3) sample positioning. This instrument design will enable in situ studies of soft matter and illuminate the role of interfacial structure on tribological phenomena.

Graphical Abstract

Abstract Image

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用于软物质中子原位反射的直线往复摩擦计。

中子反射法是一种测量平面界面附近结构的技术，以前用于非破坏性地表征水合、稀释和软材料的聚合物密度。以前的研究已经对液体、凝胶、乳液和聚合物溶液在静止、压缩和受剪切应力作用下进行了中子反射测量。然而，由于壁滑移、样品厚度和结构非均质性（例如深度梯度），将软材料的结构与摩擦学特性相关联给先前的仪器带来了重大的实验挑战。线性往复摩擦计为原位中子反射研究提供了几个优点，包括均匀的速度剖面，在大范围内的恒定剪切应力，以及在测量过程中独立控制法向力和滑动速度。这项工作概述了在中子束线中工作的定制线性往复摩擦计设计的基本考虑因素，包括调试测量。该摩擦计的设计目的是压缩软和水合材料对线性往复硅盘。该摩擦计的三个关键设计考虑因素是：(1)安全性，(2)中子透射，(3)样品定位。该仪器的设计将使软物质的原位研究成为可能，并阐明界面结构在摩擦学现象中的作用。

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来源期刊

Tribology Letters 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

9.40%

发文量

116

审稿时长

2.5 months

期刊介绍： Tribology Letters is devoted to the development of the science of tribology and its applications, particularly focusing on publishing high-quality papers at the forefront of tribological science and that address the fundamentals of friction, lubrication, wear, or adhesion. The journal facilitates communication and exchange of seminal ideas among thousands of practitioners who are engaged worldwide in the pursuit of tribology-based science and technology.