Facilities
The IRC is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for synthesis, processing, fabrication and characterisation of ceramic powders, materials, components and devices. Some of the equipment is listed below.
Powder Synthesis and Characterisation
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Netszch Dilatometer for 1600C with atmosphere control
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Netszch Dilatometer for 2000C for vacuum/inert atmosphere work
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Edwards Freeze Drier
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Ball Mills and High Energy Vibro-Mill for particle comminution
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Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analysers – Coulter and Sympatec
Processing, Fabrication and Sintering
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2-Roll Mills
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3-Roll Mill
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50 ton Press
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Screen Printer
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Large range of ovens, muffle furnaces and tube furnaces with temperature capabilities to 1700C
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2-roll Calender
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Laminar Flow powder handling and processing areas 100kN and 200kN Instron testing machines (used for instrumented pressing and extrusion work)
Materials and Device Characterisation
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Electromagnetic Characterisation from 100MHz – 20GHz via HP 4914A Impedance / Gain Phase Analyser HP 8720A Vector Network Analyser
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Wide range of test cavities for microwave materials measurements at normal and cryogenic temperatures. High power microwave amplifiers available for 1-2GHz and 8-12GHz frequency ranges
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Computer controlled electromagnetic measurements from -70 to +200C
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Piezoelectric sensor and actuator device characterisation with computer control
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Surface roughness characterisation (Talysurf)
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High voltage electrical supplies and heated oil bath for poling of piezoelectric materials
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Wide range of DC voltage and current supplies with micro- and nano-voltmeters for DC characterisation at normal and cryogenic temperatures
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Optical Microscope with Digital Camera
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3-point and 4-point mechanical property measurements
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Accutom 50 for precision cutting and surface grinding