Materials Research Laboratory

The materials research facility consists of experimental set-up fabrication, electro-magneto-thermal-mechanical testing, sample preparation and analysis equipment. Test facilities include a 10,000 N single axis servo-hydraulic test frame (will be installed spring 2002), a novel magneto-mechanical test transducer, a thermal dynamic mechanical analyzer, a differential scanning calorimeter, three channel strain gage amplifier, magnetic gaussmeter, high voltage (10 kV) and high current (2 amp) amplifiers. Sample preparation equipment includes a computer controlled Accutom diamond saw and surface grinder, metallurgical polishing wheels, high and low vacuum pumps, and fume hoods. Analysis equipment includes electronic balances, a digital camera equipped microscope and macro-lens. Campus analytical facilities available for use include two scanning electron microscopes, a transmission electron microscope, electron microprobe and x-ray diffractometer.