Material Science Equipment

Department contact: David Raude

Overview: 

The material mounting press is used for suspending a small sample of material in plastic to then perform testing or polishing.

Typical uses:

• Mounting material specimens into an ABS puck.

System specifications and accessories:

• Heating collar to melt plastic pellets
• Manual hydraulic press

Department contact: David Raude

Overview:

The materials testing facility in the MAE department offers manual polishing stations and an automatic polisher.  Manual polishing stations are used for undergraduate labs, but can also be used by researchers with permission.

Typical uses:

• Polishing mounted specimens for metallographic analysis

System specifications and accessories:

• Rotating head that can polish multiple specimens simultaneously
• Selectable time, speed and force
• Different polishing compounds available

• Polishing mounted specimens for metallographic analysis

System specifications and accessories:

• Integrated water jet
• 240, 320, 400, 600 grits
• Polishing wheel available with compound
• Acid etch available

Department contact: David Raude

Overview:

The materials testing facility in the MAE department offers several furnaces for heating specimens.

Typical uses:

• Heating material/specimens to a specific temperature
• Commonly used in heat treating procedures

System specifications and accessories:

• Internal dimensions of 8”x8”x12”
• Maximum temperature of 1100 ^oC

Department contact: David Raude

Overview:

Manual Rockwell hardness testing equipment.

Typical uses:

• Measuring the hardness of a material in the Rockwell B and Rockwell C scales.

System specifications and accessories:

• Specimens should be shorter than 1 inch

Department contact: David Raude

Overview:

Automated micro-indentation hardness testing machine for precision hardness testing of materials.

Typical uses:

• Measuring the hardness of materials with very small thicknesses

System specifications and accessories:

• Integrated microscope to align the indenter with a small area of interest
• Automated indenting system

Department contact: David Raude

Overview:

The light microscopes can be used for metallographic analysis of material specimens.  Light microscopes are used for undergraduate labs, but can also be used by researchers with permission.

Typical uses:

• Examining material grain structure and objects at high magnifications

System specifications and accessories:

• Variable magnification ranging from 10x – 100x
• Computer integrated camera system to capture imagery and assist in manipulation
• Adjustable platform to move specimen for examination

Department contact: David Raude

Overview:

Manual hydraulic press for compressing material samples.

Typical uses:

• Applying a compressive load to specimens

System specifications and accessories:

• Manual pneumatic load applicator
• Spring return system
• Flat compression platens

Department contact: David Raude

Overview:

The Neo-Tribo model MPW110 multi-purpose wear test system is an apparatus designed to test the abrasive resistance of materials.

Typical uses:

• Testing the wear resistance of materials

System specifications and accessories:

• Adjustable contact force and wear tip
• High frequency data acquisition system
• Variable speed