One-day seminar on

Instrumentation Methods in Colloid and Interface Science

Nov 19, 2005, UICT, Mumbai 19

The importance of instrumentation in surface science and technology is undoubted. As a matter of fact, the present day research in interfacial science and engineering has been progressing to the dimensions of nanometrics on the basis of sophisticated instrumentation techniques. The Indian Society for Surface Science and Technology – Western India Chapter (ISSST-WIC) organized a one-day seminar on Instrumentation Methods in Colloid and Interface Science with an objective of providing a common platform for the instrument manufacturers and research scientists from industry and universities. The seminar was hosted at the “Green” campus of Institute of Chemical technology, University of Mumbai (UICT).

The inaugural session began with Dr. Sunil S. Bhagwat, Hon. Secretary ISSST-WIC and Prof. Jayesh Bellare, Chairman, ISSST-WIC extending a warm welcome all the participants. The welcome note was followed by formal inauguration of the convention by Prof. S. G. Dixit, Chairperson, Academic Affairs, Tolani Maritime Institute (former Professor and Head, Applied Chemistry Division, UICT). Prof. Dixit lighted the software assisted ceremonial lamp on the screen to spark-on the seminar. In his address, Prof. Dixit shared his experiences of applications of instrumentation techniques in surface characterization of nanoparticles.

The first session was marked by lectures from Dr. Bunz, Managing Director, Kruss, Germany on two themes. In the first theme lecture, various techniques and instruments for surface / interfacial tension measurements and contact angle measurements were described in great details. Dr. Bunz also presented results from experiments performed using Kruss instruments. In his second lecture, Dr. Bunz revealed the niceties of simulation and modeling of various interfacial phenomena. The morning session also included the presentation by Dr. S. S. Bhagwat, Chemical Engineering Division, MUICT on his invention of new instrument for formability studies of surfactants. This novel instrument has been designed such that the limitations in the Rose-Miles method are overcome.

Post lunch session commenced with a presentation by Dr. P. A. Hassan, BARC, entitled “Making sense of Brownian motion”, wherein, he described the mathematical background behind various surface phenomena and measurement techniques. Dr. Hassan delivered another lecture on “Scanning Probe Microscopy” during later part of the seminar. In addition, highly sophisticated instrumentation techniques namely, Small Angle Neutron Scattering and Small Angle X-ray Scattering were talked in detail by Dr. P. S. Goyal, Inter-University Consortium, BARC. The seminar concluded with vote of thanks by Dr. Parag V. Naik, Hon. Jt. Secretary, ISSST-WIC proposing a vote of thanks for the Director- UICT, sponsors, all speakers, volunteers and to the delegates.