The Linkam Optical Shearing System (CSS450) allows the structural dynamics
of complex fluids to be directly observed via a standard optical microscope
while they are under precisely controlled temperature and various shear modes.

Using the optical shearing cell, it is possible to study the microstructure evolution
of complex fluids in detail for many physical processes such as the coarsening
of binary fluids during their phase separations, flow-induced mixing and
demixing of polymer blends, defects dynamics of liquid crystals and the
aggregation of red blood cells and their deformation in flows. We are then in a
good position to correlate micro structural dynamics with rheological data for
gaining insight into rheology of complex fluids.

CSS450 OPTICAL RHEOLOGY SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS

• Temperature range ambient to 450°C (-50°C to 450°C on Cryo CSS450)
• Computer control using LINK
• Sample area 30mm Ø
• Gap setting between 5 and 2500 µm, 1 µm increments
• Four modes of operation; oscillatory, step, steady & relax
• 100 Ohm platinum resistor
• Removable lid for easy sample loading & cleaning
• Fixes to most microscopes using stage clamps
• Temperature rates of between 0.01°C to 30°C/min
• Silver heating blocks for high thermal conductivity
• Observation diameter 7.5mm Ø, viewing area 2.8mm Ø
• Sample mounted on quartz window
• Temperature stability +/-0.2°C
• Designed for use with the LINK image capture system
• Velocity, amplitude & frequency can be set before run
• Data can be saved to spreadsheet
• Changeable speed of gap setting of 1 to 300um/s
• Suitable for phase contrast, transmitted and polarised light
• Objective lens minimum working distance 7.4mm
• Condenser lens minimum working distance 15mm