Granular Shear Cell (GSC)

This granular shear cell helps to study the flowing and shearing behavior of grains between relatively moving surfaces. This cell allows one to study the grain flow velocity, solid fraction, granular temperature (i.e., velocity fluctuation), energy dissipation during flow, and slip velocities.

To impose shear on test grains within the GSC, the inner rotating wheel has can be given a prescribed roughness. The GSC has an aluminum frame with a transparent body so that the dynamic behavior of the grain flow can be observed using high-speed photography where the particle position and velocimetry data are known as a function of time. The moving wheel is attached to a 1/16 HP motor capable of achieving rotational speeds of 53–280 rpm, which corresponds to a linear velocity of 0.55–2.89 m/s.

Vision Research VEO–710S (High Speed Camera)

The VEO 710 is the fastest VEO model and features a one megapixel sensor with over 7 Gigapixels/second (Gpx/s) throughput. This translates to the ability to record up to 7,400 frames-per-second (fps) at its full 1280 x 800 resolution, or over 8,200 fps at 720p HD. The top speed at reduced resolution is 680,000 fps standard or 1,000,000 fps with the FAST option, which also provides exposure times as low as 300 nanoseconds. With the maximum RAM configuration of 72 GB, at 7,400 fps the VEO 710 provides over six seconds of record time.

Applications include multiphase flows, tribology debris generation, fluid dynamics, biomechanics, material test, airbag development and test, microscopy and granular flow. The high-speed CCD camera is used to capture images of granular flow data such as solid fraction, particle velocity, and slip.

Coefficient of Restitution Measurement (COR Rig)

Single granular particles can be dropped from various heights and COR based on height or velocity is computed. The apparatus is used to measure the coefficient of restitution (COR) between colliding materials.

The casing (E) provides holes that fix the suction device (F) in place at different heights. The air hose/pump (G/H) provides a suction force to the holding apparatus (F), which is turned on to hold a sphere (C) with holder (D) in place and then switched off to allow the sphere to drop from rest. This type of setup minimizes spin during the drop. The base plate specimen (B) is 15.24 cm square of various thicknesses and mounted on hollow metal support (A). The hollow block structure allows the flexural vibrations in the plate and it is sufficiently rigid to support the plate edges. In this way particle impact with finite and semi-infinite plate can be measured.

A Hysitron TI 980 TriboIndenter

The TI 980 TriboIndenter is Hysitron's latest, most advanced nanomechanical test instrument that lies at the intersection of maximum performance, flexibility, reliability, usability, and speed. The TI 980 Nanoindenter is the next-generation of Hysitron's renowned TriboIndenter product family, building upon decades of technological innovation to deliver a new level of extraordinary performance, enhanced capabilities, and ultimate versatility in nanomechanical and nanotribological characterization.

• Industry-leading force and displacement noise floors enable quantitative nanomechanical and nanotribological characterization to the low end of the nanoscale
• Standard Hysitron Capacitive Transducer Noise Floors: 20nN force, 0.1nm Displacement.
• Hysitron's xProbe™ Transducer Noise Floors: 1nN Force, 0.01nm Displacement.
• Performech® II Advanced Control Module with state-of-the-art Digital Signal Processor (DSP) plus Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) architecture
• Ultra-fast feedback control loops and data acquisition rates reliably track rapid transient events and deliver high speed testing capabilities
• Powerful base configuration includes quantitative nanoscale-to-microscale indentation, nanoscratch, nanowear, high resolution in-situ Scanning Probe Microscopy imaging, dynamic nanoindentation, and high speed mechanical property mapping
• XPM™ Accelerated Property Mapping enables 500x faster nanoindentation for rapid, high-resolution property mapping and statistically significant data sets in a short period of time
• SPM+ high resolution in-situ Scanning Probe Microscopy imaging enables nanometer precision test placement accuracy and characterization of post-test deformation behavior
• Multi-layer, custom engineered enclosure and active anti-vibration system delivers exceptional environmental stability for reliable nanoscale characterization

Optical Profilometer Contour GT-K

The Contour GT-K 3D Optical Microscope has exceptional roughness and 2D/3D measurement capabilities, high-resolution imaging and the industry's most advanced user friendly interface, the system offers uncompromised metrology in a simplified package with a compact footprint. The gage-capable ContourGT-K provides intuitive access to an extensive library of pre-programmed filters and analyses for LED, solar cell, thick films, semiconductor, ophthalmic, medical device, MEMS and tribology applications. Boasting unmatched Z-axis resolution and accuracy, the ContourGT-K provides all of the industry recognized advantages of Bruker's proprietary white light interferometry without the deficiencies of conventional confocal and standard digital microscopes.

• Max. Scan Range Up to 10 mm
• RMS Repeatability (PSI) 0.02 nm
• Lateral Resolution 0.38 µm min (Sparrow criterion); 0.26 µm (with AcuityXR)
• Max. Sample Slope Up to 40° (shiny surfaces); Up to 87° (rough surfaces)
• Sample Height Up to 100 mm (4 in.)
• Sample Height Up to 100 mm (4 in.)
• XY Sample Stage 150 mm (6 in.) manual or automated option
• Tip/Tilt Function ±6° manual in stage

Atomic Force Microscope (Bruker Multimode)

Atomic force microscopy is a high-resolution imaging technique where a small probe with a sharp tip is scanned back and forth in a controlled manner across a sample to measure the surface topography at up to atomic resolution. AFM microscopy techniques encompass a variety of scanning modes that enable nanoscale characterization of different material properties such as electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties. Peak Force Tapping is a new technique that enables the highest resolution surface imaging as well as a new generation of highly sensitive nanoscale property mapping techniques for mechanical, electrical, biological, chemical and thermal property measurements. By applying a precisely controlled Pico Newton level force curve at every data point.

• Nanomechanical head with Dynamic testing mode and easy to replace indenter tips
• Loading Range: 0.01 mN to 45 mN. Resolution: 0.003 µN.
• Minimum Contact Force: 0.2 µN
• Maximum Displacement: 40 µm. Displacement Resolution: 0.0003 nm
• Force Amplitude Range: 0.025 µN to 1900 μN. Frequency Bandwidth: 0 to 300 Hz
• Integrated Optical Microscope with 4 objective turret • 2.5X, 10X, 20X, and 1000X
• Modified Berkovich Diamond Indenter Tip• 3 Facets, 65.27° Face Angle, 20 µm Indentation Depth, 375°C, 50 mN
• Max. Travel: 150mm x 110mm. Stage Resolution: 0.1 µm.

Four Ball Tester

The Four Ball Tester can be used to determine Wear Preventive properties (WP), Extreme Pressure properties (EP) and friction behavior of lubricants. A rotating steel ball is pressed against three steel balls firmly held together and immersed in lubricant under test. The test load, duration, temperature and rotational speed are set in accordance with standard test schedule. In Wear Preventive (WP) tests – also called Anti Wear (AW) tests – the average scar diameter on the bottom three balls is reported. The size of the scar shows the ability of the lubricant to prevent wear. A larger diameter indicates poor wear preventive property while a smaller indicates superior wear preventive property.

• Single instrument for Extreme Pressure (EP) and Wear Preventive (WP) tests.
• Built-in "Collet Master" attachment for sample loading.
• Optical microscope included for scar measurements
• Rotational speed :3,000 rpm (Max)
• Test Load : up to 10,000 N
• Temperature : ambient to 100 Deg C
• Test standards: ASTM D2783, ASTM D2596, ASTM D2266, ASTM D4172, ASTM D5183, CEC L-45-T-93, DIN 51350-6, IP 239, IP 300

Gas Erosion Tester (Ducom)

Erosive wear is caused by the impact of particles air jet impinging on a solid surface. Erosion leads to loss of life of components in aerospace, gas turbines, boilers and power plants. In order to maximize life, proper selection of materials used in such applications is required. Gas Jet Erosion Tester facilitates determination of wear rate under wide range of conditions. Wear rate can be used to identify the best material under given operating conditions. It can also be used to predict service life and life cycle costs.

• Velocity: Up to 150 m/s
• Erodent Feed Rate: 1 to 5 g/min; Nominal, for 200 mesh alumina
• Angle of Impingement: 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75° & 90° (Other angles possible on request)
• Nozzle Diameter: 1.5 mm, standard; (2, 3 mm for high temperature modules)
• Sample Size: 25 x 25 x 5 mm; 20 X 20 X 5 mm for 15 and 30 degree angles (Other sizes on request)

Slurry Abraision Tester (Ducom)

The Slurry Abrasion Tester is designed such that a flat test sample is pressed radially against a wheel with a known force. The test area is submerged in wet abrasive media (slurry). The arrangement is such that the wheel carries the abrasive media between the sample and the wheel creating a scenario of three body wear using the slurry in the chamber.

• Load: 100 N to 300 N (dead weights)
• Speed: 245 +/- 5 rpm
• Duration: 999,999 rev (Max)
• Test standards: ASTM B611, ASTM G105.

ExOne Innovent 3D Printer

ExOne uses Binder Jetting technology to 3D print complex parts in industrial-grade materials. Binder Jetting is an additive manufacturing process in which a liquid binding agent is selectively deposited to join powder particles. Layers of material are then bonded to form an object.

Binder Jetting is capable of printing a variety of materials including metals, sands and ceramics. Some materials, like sand, require no additional processing. Other materials are typically cured and sintered and sometimes infiltrated with another material, depending on the application.

Offering eight times the print volume of prior lab models and designed for research and educational customers, the Innovent® 3D printer is an excellent tool for developing powdered materials and processes, as well as training the next generation of manufacturing and material scientists, enabling the exploration of ExOne® technology under industrial conditions.

M2200 HP/HT Lubricity, Dynamic Filtration, & Drilling Simulator

The M2200 HPHT Lubricity, Dynamic Filtration, and Drilling Simulator provides multiple test functions in one compact unit, offering a computer controlled test environment which can realistically simulate high pressure high temperature downhole conditions while allowing the user to perform multiple test functions, saving money, training and research time, and the laboratory space that multiple test devices would otherwise require.

• The tests this multi use instrument can perform, alongside High Temperature High Pressure (HTHP) Drilling simulations are
• Differential Sticking Tests
• Dynamic HPHT Filtration Tests
• Particle Plugging Tests

Freeman FT4 Powder Rheometer

The FT4 Powder Rheometer® was designed with one purpose in mind – to characterize the rheology, or flow properties, of powders. This remains a primary function today, but the instrument, accessories and methodologies have been continuously developed to the point where the FT4 is now considered a universal powder tester.

Rtec Universal Tribometer

This tribometer is designed to be a multi use tool for tribometric testing. Its modular design allows it to perform 4 different kinds of tests

Rotary Drive

• Angular speeds up to 10,000 rpm
• This module can perform pin, ball, and disk on disk tests as well as ring on ring, ring on bushing, among other ring type tests

Reciprocating Drive

• Rates of up to 70 Hz/500 Hz
• This module can perform pin on plate, ball on plate tests, as well as fretting tests
• Block on ring tests
• Tests can be performed up to 10,000 rpm
• This module can perform tests on bearings, rings, and seals, as well as Timken tests

Four Ball, TCT, EP Wear

• These tests provide real time measurements and data collection
• Useful for the testing of Lubricants, oil, grease, etc.

Allows for in line imaging during tests. Imaging modules include interferometer, AFM, confocal microscope, for sub nm resolution, 3D surface imaging on the platform without taking sample out of tool.