Index
Mechanical characterisation | Microstructural characterisation | Characterisation of durability | Thermal analysis | Other techniques
Mechanical characterisation
Shimadzu AG – I 250 kN universal testing machine (UTM)
It is used to evaluate the mechanical properties of materials by applying controlled forces. The most common tests are tensile, compression, bending and shear tests. It also allows the strength, ductility and behaviour up to failure to be determined.
Encotest DuraScan 50
This equipment is used to measure the hardness of materials, using a controlled load and a diamond indenter (depending on the type of hardness to be tested), which is then measured to determine the material's resistance to plastic deformation. This equipment can be used to measure microhardness on a microscopic scale, or macroduress where the deformation is visible to the naked eye.
Microstructural characterisation
JEOL JSM-5410 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
It is used to obtain high-resolution images of sample surfaces, allowing for detailed analysis of their morphology and composition.
Olympus GX51 metallographic optical microscope
Used to observe and analyse the internal microstructures of metals, such as grain arrangement, phases and possible defects present in metal samples.
Siemens D5000 X-ray diffractometer
Used to determine the three-dimensional geometric structure of crystalline materials.
Characterisation of durability
Humytest salt spray chamber
Used to perform accelerated corrosion tests, recreating high salinity environments to assess the resistance of materials to aggressive conditions.
Autolab galvanostat potentiostat
Used for a wide variety of techniques:
- EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy)
- CV (Cyclic Voltammetry)
- Rp (Linear Polarisation, Polarisation Resistance)
- ENA (Electrochemical Noise)
- ZRA (Galvanic Currents)
- EQCM (Quartz Crystal Microbalance)
Keysight E4990A 20Hz – 50MHz Impedance Analyser
This technique provides information about the behaviour of a system as a function of the frequency of the applied alternating current.
EIS is useful in various applications, such as analytical electrochemistry, where molecules can be detected without an active redox marker.
Thermal analysis
Thermogravimetry (TGA) Mettler Toledo STAR System
Analytical technique that measures the change in weight of a sample as it is heated or cooled. This method allows the composition and thermal stability of materials to be studied.
Mettler Toledo DSC822 Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)e
Used to measure the energy absorbed or released by a sample as it is heated or cooled.
Other techniques
Surface characterisation
Veeco Dektak150 profilometer
Used for multiple applications, such as:
- Measuring layer thicknesses and roughness in materials.
- Textural analysis and quality control in machining processes and surface treatments.
- Measuring spatial frequencies and quality control of machining tools.
Particle size analysis
Malvern Zetasizer Nano DLS analyser – ZS ZEN3600
Used to measure particle size, zeta potential and molecular mobility, as well as for various other applications such as the characterisation of nanoparticles, colloids and proteins.