Resources and Equipment:
 The Chemistry Department and
the Williams research group address the
physical chemistry needs of the university, the State of Texas, and the
general public through:
·
Quality
teaching of
quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, thermodynamics, and kinetics drawing
material from various authors. (P.W.
Atkins, J.
Nibler, G
Herzberg, T.
Engel, P. Reid, D.
Harris, M. Bertolucci, F.
Cotton, and R.
Drago).
·
Rigorous
data analysis
using process mapping, numerical modeling, non-linear optimization,
multiple linear / step-wise regression, spectral deconvolution, gauge
repeatability-reliability analysis, and molecular modeling (Minitab, Mathmatica, Excel,
Gaussian, Hyperchem, and Discovery Studio).
·
Broad
coverage of experimental techniques including
o
Hydrometry
(temperature-controlled large-capacity)
o
Tensiometry
(temperature-controlled, interfacial, large-capacity)
o
Viscometry
(temperature-controlled, capillary and falling-ball)
o
Chromatography
(gas, liquid, and ion)
o
Mass
spectrometry (gas, solid desorption, and ion mobility)
o
Calorimetry
(bomb and solution)
o
Digital
microscopy (polarized visible and infrared)
o
Spectroscopy
(absorption-UVVIS, reflectance-UVVIS, micro-UVVIS,
macro/micro-absorption-FTIR, macro/micro-reflectance-FTIR,
micro-grazing-angle-reflectance-FTIR,
macro/micro-attenuated-total-reflectance-FTIR, Raman, micro-Raman,
laser-induced-fluorimetry, solution fluorimetry, 60Mhz NMR, and 300MHz
NMR)
·
Innovative
research
o
Using
short-turnaround 3-month (Jun – Aug), 6-month (Mar – Aug,
Jun – Nov), 9-month (Dec – Aug, Jun – Feb), and
annual research grants.
o
Using
a mixture of faculty, graduate students, exchange students, and
undergraduate students.
o
Addressing
a variety of needs
§
Spectroscopic
interpretation, assignment, and modeling.
§
 Analysis
of aging machanisms of polymeric materials and binders of explosives
§
Detection
of traditional, military, and home-made explosive substances
§
Determination
and optimization of filled-polymer formulation process parameters.
§
Safe
destruction of home-made explosive substances
§
Hansen
solubility sphere analysis of polymeric materials, explosives, and
non-electrolytes in organic solvent blends (see image)
§
Solvent
blend predictions and substitutions for environmental impact and hazard
reduction (see image)
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