KSV 5000 User manual

Operation Manual
LB device
KSV 5000
Revision 1.1

Table Of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
2. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION ----------------------------------------------------------- 2
2.1. Overview ------------------------------------------------------------------------------2
2.2. System 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------3
2.3. System 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
2.4. System 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
2.5. Mechanics -----------------------------------------------------------------------------6
2.6. Additional Devices ---------------------------------------------------------------- 10
2.7. Special Troughs-------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
3. PRELIMINARIES -----------------------------------------------------------------------15
3.1. Connections------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
3.2. Cleaning ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16
3.3. Dipper Substrate Attachment -------------------------------------------------- 19
3.4. Monolayer Material Spreading ------------------------------------------------ 19
3.5. Experimental Setup --------------------------------------------------------------- 20
4. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ---------------------------------------------------21
4.1. Deposition System ----------------------------------------------------------------- 21
4.2. Film Pressure Measuring System---------------------------------------------- 21
4.3. Film Area Control System------------------------------------------------------- 21
4.4. Trough ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22
4.5. General ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 22
5. CONTACT INFORMATION----------------------------------------------------------23

1
1. Introduction
The Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) devices available from KSV
Instruments are efficient and effective in investigating the properties of floating
monolayers, precise deposition of multilayers onto solid substrates or simply
as platforms for use in observing surface chemistry effects such as the
breakdown of an enzyme or the crystalline structure of a surfactant. The wide
range of available systems and the many modules available make
customisation a charm, and if the troughs available do not suit your needs
then contact us about designing a particular trough to your specifications.
There are four series of LB systems available today, the KSV 5000, 2000,
Minitrough and the Minimicro in descending order of size. The differences
between the systems are mechanical, the same software and interface unit
operates all of the LB devices. KSV 2000 is the basic multipurpose LB device.
KSV 5000 adds a sturdy frame with automatic elevator arms for attaching
additional measurement devices, becoming the most versatile LB device
available today. The KSV Minitrough is a more compact and economical LB
device. The KSV Minimicro is a small and elegant LB device brilliant for
depositions on small substrates or to minimise sample volumes.
This is the device-specific manual for the KSV 5000 LB device, featuring
details such as physical descriptions and cleaning instructions. Please see the
LB installation manual or the LB software manual for details on installation,
calibration, measurement taking or data analysis.

2
2. Physical Description
2.1. Overview
The general physical layout of the KSV 5000 Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) system
consists of the trough with the subphase and the surfactant, barriers which
can adjust the surface pressure by reducing the area available to the
surfactant, a balance with a Wilhelmy plate which monitors the surface
pressure and an interface unit to control the devices and communicate with
the computer running the experiment.
The available systems are:
System Trough Devices Available
experiments
1 Flat Balance Langmuir
film balance
2 Flat with well Balance and
dipper
Multilayer
LB-films on
solid
substrate
and
Langmuir
film balance
3 Compartmentalised
with half-circle well
Balance
and
two-
armed
dipper
Alternating
LB-films, one
component
LB-films and
Langmuir
film balance

3
2.2. System 1
The appearance of the instrument depends on the system in use. System 1 is
the most basic setup, consisting of a balance and a trough with a barrier drive
system.
Image 2.1: KSV 5000 System 1.
1) Balance
2) Trough
3) Barriers
4) LayerBuilder
System 1 is designed for the study of floating monolayers.
PTFE trough with a surface area of 870 cm2, (L580 x W150 x D9 mm3) and a
subphase volume of 780 ml.
1
2
3
4

4
2.3. System 2
The System 2 additions over System 1 are the dipper, a second stand for the
dipper and a trough with a well.
Image 2.2: KSV 5000 System 2.
1) Balance
2) Trough
3) Barriers
4) LayerBuilder
5) Dipper
6) Well
System 2 is designed for the study of floating monolayers and for the
deposition of multilayer films of one substance on a solid substrate.
PTFE trough with a surface area of 870 cm2, (L580 x W150 x D9 mm3), a
dipping well (L37 x W117 x D90 mm3) and a subphase volume of 1172 ml.
1
2
3
4
5
6

5
2.4. System 3
In addition to system 1 the trough is fitted with a bigger, half circle well and a
two-armed dipper is positioned above the well. Two pairs of barriers and two
balances operate different sides of the trough.
Image 2.3: KSV 5000 System 3.
1) Balances 4)
LayerBuilder
2) Trough 5)
Dipper
3) Barriers 6)
Well
System 3 is in effect two different LB troughs where the subphases are
connected through the dipping well. Two barrier drives operate independent
pairs of barriers so the surface pressures of both sample compartments can
be adjusted separately. A two-armed dipper with one arm operating above the
surface and the other operating below the surface means that only the
substrate breaks the surface. A central compartment with a clean water
surface gives unlimited choice in which layer is next deposited onto the
substrate and from which direction (immersing into or withdrawing from the
subphase).
PTFE trough with a surface area of 2 x 930 cm2, (L775 x W120 x D10 mm3), a
half-circle (radius 133mm) dipping well in the centre divided into 3
compartments and a subphase volume of 6000 ml.
1
2
3
4
5
6

6
2.5. Mechanics
A) Computer
The computer controls all functions of the instrument. Because each device
includes its own microprocessor, the computer sends only high level
commands to them (for instance "Move with certain speed" or "Go to certain
position" and so on). All devices are listening to every message, but they
become active only when they recognise their own address.
The computer should be a PC running Windows 2000/XP/Vista. A 1GHz
processor and 512MB RAM memory are recommended.
B) Barrier Driving System
The barrier position is controlled by a micro step driven stepping motor. The
motor moves the barrier holder using a tooth belt. The holder itself is attached
to a linear motion system, which is equipped with ball bearings.
The barrier driving system is equipped with adjustable safety switches which
stop the barrier immediately when the barrier holder hits the switches. The
position of the barrier is measured using an optical encoder. The position is
relative and so a zero point at a known position must be set manually.
The control electronics are located inside of the barrier driving unit. There is a
15-pin connector on the rear of the unit. The barrier driving unit should be
connected to the Interface unit through this connector.

7
Image 2.4: Block diagram of the barrier driving system
C) Surface Balance
The surface pressure is measured by using the Wilhelmy plate method (round
rod optional). The Wilhelmy plate is a carefully sandblasted platinum plate or a
clean paper plate, which is put partly under the surface of the subphase.
Normal practice is to position the plate so that one third of it is under the
subphase. The force acting on the plate depends on surface pressure. This
force is measured using the electro-balance. The total measurement range of
the balance is +/- 2000 mg. The width of the platinum Wilhelmy plate has
been chosen so that 1 mN/m corresponds to 4 mg. For paper Wilhelmy plates
this value is commonly about half as great as with the platinum plates.

8
Image 2.5: Block diagram of the surface balance.
D) Deposition system
The deposition system is DC motor controlled to ensure vibration-free
operation. The speed range of the dipping arm is 0.1...85 mm/min and
maximum stroke is about 145 mm. The DC motor is servo controlled to keep
the speed constant. The position is determined with an optical encoder. The
deposition system is equipped with safety switches which stop the motor
automatically in both ends.