Claims
- 1. A method for high throughput preparation and characterization of materials, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a plurality of material samples; (b) forming the plurality of material samples into a plurality of films; (c) plastically deforming the plurality of films; and (d) screening the plurality of films to determine at least one characteristic of the plurality of material samples wherein the characteristic is affected by the step of plastically deforming the plurality of films.
- 2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the plurality of samples are each at least partially formed of a polymeric material.
- 3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of plastically deforming the plurality of films includes extending at least a portion of the plurality of samples.
- 4. A method as in claim 1 wherein step (d) is performed at least partially simultaneously with step (c).
- 5. A method as in claim 1 wherein step (d) is performed serially relative to step (c).
- 6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step (c) includes extending at least a portion of the plurality of samples in a first direction followed by extending at least a portion of the plurality of samples in a second different direction.
- 7. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step (c) includes uniformly simultaneously biaxially deforming at least a portion of the plurality of samples.
- 8. A method as in claim 1 further comprising elevating the temperature of said plurality of samples.
- 9. A method for high throughput preparation and characterization of materials, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a plurality of polymer-based material samples; (b) forming the plurality of material samples into a plurality of films; (c) plastically deforming the plurality of films by:
(i) securing the plurality of films over one or more openings of one or more vessels defined in a substrate thereby forming a substantially fluid-tight seal over the one or more openings; and (ii) elevating the pressure within the one or more vessels thereby deforming the each of the samples away from the one or more vessels; and (d) screening the plurality of films to determine at least one characteristic of the plurality of material samples wherein the characteristic is effected by the step of plastically deforming the plurality of films.
- 10. A method as in claim 9 wherein the step of plastically deforming the plurality of films includes extending at least a portion of the plurality of samples.
- 11. A method as in claim 9 wherein step (d) is performed at least partially simultaneously with step (c).
- 12. A method as in claim 9 wherein step (d) is performed serially relative to step (c).
- 13. A method as in claim 9 wherein the step (c) includes extending at least a portion of the plurality of samples in a first direction followed by extending at least a portion of the plurality of samples in a second different direction.
- 14. A method as in claim 9 wherein the step (c) includes uniformly simultaneously biaxially deforming at least a portion of the plurality of samples.
- 15. A method as in claim 9 further comprising elevating the temperature of said plurality of samples prior to step (c).
- 16. A method as in claim 9 further comprising exposing the plurality of samples to a fluid capable of plasticizing the plurality of samples during step (c).
- 17. A method for high throughput preparation and characterization of materials, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing at least 16 polymer-based material samples by automatically dispensing the material samples with a robot; (b) forming the at least 16 material samples into at least 16 films; (c) plastically deforming the at least 16 films by:
(i) securing the at least 16 films over one or more openings of one or more vessels defined in a substrate thereby forming a substantially fluid-tight seal with the at least 16 films over the one or more openings; (ii) elevating the pressure within the one or more vessels thereby deforming the at least 16 films away from the one or more vessels wherein one or more molds is positioned above the one or more openings to assist in extending the at least 16 films in a first direction; (iii) rotating the one or more molds relative to the at least 16 films; (iv) elevating the pressure within the one or more vessels a second time thereby deforming the at least 16 films away from the one or more vessels wherein the one or more molds is positioned above the one or more openings to assist in extending the at least 16 films in a second direction (d) combinatorially screening the plurality of films to determine at least one characteristic of the plurality of material samples wherein the characteristic is effected by the step of plastically deforming the plurality of films.
- 18. A method as in claim 17 wherein the one or more molds include a cavity formed therein.
- 19. A method as in claim 18 wherein one or more molds include a passageway extending from the cavity to the atmosphere outside the mold.
- 20. A method as in claim 19 wherein the cavity of the one or more molds is substantially semi-cylindrical in shape.
CLAIM OF BENEFIT OF FILING DATE
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/353,912 (Filed Jan. 31, 2002), hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60353912 |
Jan 2002 |
US |