Equipment in the Characterisation Facility

There are a number of different precision cutting machines available allowing users to cut a wide range of sample sizes and hardnesses, to the desired size for further sample preparation. There of different blade types available and you can change the speed of cutting on the equipment.

There are a two mounting presses available, allowing users to embed their samples in Bakelite and resin, suitable for further inspection via SEM or other characterisation methods. The systems use high temperature and pressure to embed the sample into the resin. They are set-up with automatic methods for embedding, allowing ease of use for the users.

There are numerous grinding/polishing equipment available, using both manual and automatic methods, for grinding and/or polishing samples. Samples can be mounted in resin or they can be held by the user. Grinding papers and polishing pads, of different varieties, are available for users within the lab. There is also an engraver available in the lab, allowing users to keep track of their samples.

After sample preparation process has been completed, chemical etching can then be performed to further enhance the microstructure of metals. There are a number of different etchants available, with PPE also available for the users. Electropolishing can also be performed.

There are a number of different ovens and furnaces (tube and muffle) available, for heat treating samples, ranging from room temperature to 1600c.

XRD (X-ray diffraction) is a non- destructive method for characterising crystal structure and phase composition.

This model of XRD uses a copper line focus X-ray tube with a nickel kβ absorber (0.02 mm; Kβ = 1.392250 Å) producing Kα radiation (Kα1 = 1.540593 Å, Kα2 = 1.544426 Å, Kα ratio 0.5, Kαav = 1.541874 Å). It has a set increment size of 0.0149282. It has a set power settings of 30.0 kV and 20 mA.

For powdered samples – a volume of 66 or 266 mm³ of powder can be loaded into the blue double-sided sample holders (the physical amount by weight will depend on the material under investigation).

For non-powdered samples - the aluminium holder can hold a maximum of 35 x 10 mm.

There is also a larger sample holder (with it’s own stage) that can be used (ie. if your sample is mounted in bakelite). Samples can be of any shape, however, centring the sample and having a sample with a flat polished surface gives best results.

There is also a multichanger and an Anton-Parr unit (which can reach a temperature of 500 degrees) that can also be used.

Results are saved in XML and ASC format. Files can be converted into other formats including: .RAW, .XY, etc.

XRF (X-ray fluorescence) is a non-destructive technique which uses X-rays to determine the chemical composition.

FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) is a non-destructive uses infrared light to measure infrared absorption and emission spectra from a sample.

PSA (particle size analysis) is a technique which uses lasers to characterise the size and shape distribution of particles in powders or samples in a liquid suspension. The equipment is installed with both wet and dry methods providing size/shape information of a sample.

ZP (Zeta potential) is a non-destructive technique used to measure the electrical potentials at the slipping plane of particles in a suspension.

The dilatometer is a precision instrument used to measure of dimensional changes (such as thermal expansion or shrinkage in material as a function of temperature.

STA (Simultaneous Thermal Analysis) is an instrument that simultaneously measures the TGA (Thermogravimetry) and DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) of the same sample.

TGA (Thermogravimetry) measures the mass of a samples as the temperature changes over time. This can provide information on phase transitions, decomposition and oxidation.

DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), using a reference, measures the heat flow of a sample over a temperature range.

The instrument has an autochanger, allowing users to set-up up to 20 samples for measurements.

DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), using a reference, measures the heat flow of a sample over a temperature range.

The instrument has an autochanger, allowing users to set-up up to 20 samples for measurements.

The optical microscopes can be used for imaging samples, taking images and taking measurements.

There are a number of different optical microscopes available for use.

The digital microscope has a magnification of x6000 can be used for the following features:

• Taking 2D & 3D images
• 2D & 3D measurements
• Joy stick controller
• Auto focus

Visit the manufacturer's website for further information.

There are two SEMs (Scanning electron microscopy) available (Hitachi 3030+ and Hitachi 4000+) within the facility, with a BSE (Back scattered electron) detector and SE (Secondary electron) detector, for taking images of samples. There is also an EDX (energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) detector for measuring the chemical composition of samples.

There are two tensile testing instruments, which are used for measuring the tensile strength of materials by applying force to the material. The instruments have safety guards and a touch screen computer, for setting up the equipment.

We have a Struers Duramin-40 hardness tester, for measuring the hardness of materials.

Visit the manufacturer's website for further information.