Materials Science and Engineering Center Instrumentation

Thanks to a combination of state and federal funding and industry partner support, the Materials Science and Engineering Center has amassed a wide array of highly sophisticated instrumentation. Utilized by students, faculty, staff and industry partners, this facility provides technical resources unmatched in this region.

Valued at roughly $4.5M, the MSEC instrument collection allows our students and community partners to solve a wide range of materials-related engineering challenges. The instrumentation is a significant pillar of the educational foundation that allows us to educate top-notch future materials scientists and engineers. You can browse our instrumentation set in the listing below.

Available Instrumentation

Imaging

The MSEC instrumentation include powerful and diverse tools for imaging. Samples can be imaged from simple optical microscopy down to nanometer scale. In addition to the scale of magnification, the features of interest can be better visualized, mapped, and quantified through material polarization, varying depth of field, electron dyes, elemental mapping, or chemical mapping. (Scanning Electron Microscopy, Confocal Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, Raman Spectromicroscope, Scanning Auger Microscopy)

Elemental and Chemical Analysis 

The MSEC has an array of instruments that are used to determine what a sample is made of.  In some cases only what elements are present is of interest.  In other cases it is important to know how the elements are bonded, knowing the chemistry is important.  The choice of instrument needed depends on a variety of factors:  concentration, size, whether the area of interest is on the surface of the sample or deeper in, etc.  (X-ray Photoelectron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Raman Spectroscopy, Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Fluorescence, UV-Vis Spectroscopy)

Physical and Mechanical Properties

Typically the performance of a material will depend on its physical and mechanical properties. The MSEC has instrumentation available to measure physical characteristics like strength, compression, elasticity, hardness, flow rate, particle size, etc. (Tensile Testing, Hardness Testing, Nanoindentation, Impact Testing, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis, Rheometer, Dynamic Light Scattering, Pendant Drop Tensiometer, Size Exclusion Chromatography, Compression Testing)

Processing

In order to make new materials or change properties of materials, the materials often need to be processed in some way.  The MSEC has the ability to perform heat treatments, roll metal samples and perform plastic molding. (Furnaces, Induction Melter, Rolling Mill)

Prototyping

The MSEC has thirteen 3D printers that are used for prototyping and creating engineered parts. The printers use fused deposition modeling, stereolithography or binder jetting technology.  Materials range from metals, to hard plastics to soft plastics and even biological materials. The composite 3-D printer prints in nylon with reinforcement of carbon fiber, fiber glass or Kevlar. This unique printer can produce parts that are as strong as aluminum.

Sample Preparation

Often samples need to be prepared before they are characterized. The MSEC has a full suite of sample preparation tools that allow samples to be properly prepared for all of our available analysis techniques. Cutting, polishing and coating are common sample preparation techniques.

Schedule time to use instruments in the MS+E Center