About SLMBR

The Louisiana State University Shared Laboratory for Macro and Bio-Macromolecular Research (SLMBR) was established to support instruments bought with funds from the 2018 Comprehensive Enhancement Board of Regents grant titled "Enhancing the Capabilities of the Shared Laboratory for Macro- and Bio-Macromolecular Research [SLMBR]. The existing Chemistry Department Polymer Analysis Laboratory (PAL) is now part of SLMBR and managed by Dr. Rafael Cueto. 

The facility occupies 1500 sq ft on the 2nd floor of the Chemistry building and provides advanced equipment for characterization of macromolecules, supramolecular assemblies, colloids, complex fluids, and related materials, including:  

• Distribution of polymer molecular weight and size can be measured qualitatively or absolutely on one of 2 Agilent-Wyatt and a Tosoh EcoSEC Gel Permeation Chromatography - Multi Angle Light Scattering (GPC-MALS) systems.
• Dynamic light scattering can be performed on a state-of-the-art laser light scattering systems built to the specifications of the department in LSU’s Scientific Instrumentation Shops, on a Malvern ZetaSizer (which can also measure zeta potential) or on-line in flow-through mode using a Wyatt QELS.
• Thermal analysis facility (TA Systems) includes Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC, two instruments), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), and Rheology.
• The optical microscopy facility is equipped with Olympus and Leitz optical microscopes for polarized, transmission, and epi-fluorescence illumination with video cameras interface to two separate image processing systems.

• Other instrumentation includes a NIMA Langmuir Blodget trough, equipped for surface pressure measurement and production of thin films, a Beckman Coulter LS-200 Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer, an Agilent 8453 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, a Perkin Elmer LS50B Luminescence Spectrometer, a Bruker Alpha ATR FTIR, and a Jasco P-2000 Polarimeter.