Biolubrication – interfaces under load
Fig. 1: Setting up a model system for studies of structural and dynamical changes under load (pressure and shear) by combined in-situ measurements (attenuated total reflection - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) as well as neutron and X-rax refletometry) on artificial implant materials.
Fig. 2: The novel BioRef reflectometer currently under commissioning at HZB.
The new TOF-neutron reflectometer BioRef is designed with a strong focus on timedependent studies under conditions like shear and flow at solid-liquid interfaces. Such dynamic conditions are important for investigations of biological model systems. The availability of simultaneous investigations of the sample by attenuated total reflection - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) with a beam geometry perpendicular to the neutron beam is especially useful for applications under dynamic conditions, i.e. when changes in thickness or scattering length density of interfacial layers in an applied external field or confinement are to be linked with concurrent conformational changes of the constituting molecules.
