Amount:$500,000

Small Business                                                         Research Institution

Containerless Research, Inc.                                     Argonne National Laboratory

906 University Place                                                 Argonne , IL

Evanston , IL   60201-3147

Dr. Richard Weber, Principal Investigator

weber@containerless.com

Mr. John Nordine, Business Official

jnordine@containerless.com

847-467-2678

Liquid phase processing is a key step in the production of glasses, photonic materials, semiconductors, metals and alloys.  An improved understanding of liquid structure and behavior would help improve the energy efficiency, yield, and quality of materials formed by liquid phase processing.  This project will develop an advanced neutron scattering instrument for the study of liquids and non-equilibrium materials under extreme conditions of temperature.  In Phase I, a test levitator was operated at Argonne National Laboratory to verify the proposed method in neutron scattering experiments.  Detailed designs for an advanced instrument were developed.   Plans for integration of the instrument with a beamline at the Spallation Neutron Source were made.  Phase II will (1) construct an advanced levitation instrument for investigation of liquids, (2) develop software for data analysis and instrument control operations, (3) develop the instrument user group, (4) test the instrument, (5) develop plans for integration of the instrument with an SNS beamline. 

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:  The new instrumentation should expand the range and scope of experiments that can be implemented using neutron beam lines.  Potential markets include the 32 neutron facilities currently in operation throughout the world and the seven new facilities which are under construction, totaling well over 100 beamlines.