Facilities

The Poerschke research group has approximatley 1250 sq. ft. of dedicated research space split between labs in Amundson 206 and 250. We are currently developing facilitites to perform a variety of materials synthesis, processing, and environmental testing protocols. We also have easy access to various analytical instruments (XRD, SEM, TEM, etc) in the UMN CharFac. 

Major Equipment

Equipment	Visual Reference	Specifications & Capabilities
Vacuum Annealing Furnace and Hot Press		Oxy-gon vacuum furnace installed on a Carver hydraulic press.  Tungsten mesh elements and heat shields enable operating up to 2000 oC in vacuum or inert atmosphere.  Turbomolecular pump used to rapidly achieve high vacuum conditions in chamber. Can be operated as an annealing furnace (no pressure) or as a hot press with open compression platens or a closed die.
Vacuum Arc Melter		Arcast Arc 200 cold crucible arc melting and casting furnace.  Tungsten electrode powered by 600 A DC power supply used to general arc to melt a variety of metal alloys.  Main crucible has capacity to melt 200 g of material and is equipped with electromagnetic stirring system to improve alloy homogenization.  System is equipped with tilt casting, suction casting, centrifugal casting, and button casting crucibles to enable a variety of sample geometries.
Simultaneous Thermal Analysis System		NETZSCH STA449F3 system can perform thermogravimetric (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) depending on the sample carrier installed.  SiC furnace is capable of routine measurements to 1600 oC in a variety of inert, oxidizing, and corrosive atmospheres.  Graphite furnace is capable of operation to 2000 oC in inert atmospheres.  Triple mass flow controllers enable dynamic gas control during testing.
Spark Plasma Sintering System		SUGA 630Sx spark plasma sintering (SPS) or current assisted densification system.  Maximum pressing load of 60 kN and 3000 A power supply capable of rapid   sintering under pyrometer control to 2200 oC.  System is currently operated with 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm round dies, and a custom die set to produce lateral composition gradients. Other custom geometries are possible.

Furnaces

Furnace Name	Visual Reference	Specifications
Draco		Large diameter (90 mm), single zone 1750 C general purpose tube furnace with vacuum evacuation system and capable of operating with a range of controlled atmospheres.
Antila		Medium diameter (60 mm) vertical tube furnace currently configured to house an electrochemical oxygen pump and sensor system for oxidation studies.
Virgo		Large diameter (90 mm), single zone 1500 C general purpose tube furnace with vacuum evacuation system and capable of operating with a range of controlled atmospheres.
Cassiopeia III		Small diameter (32 mm), single zone 1100 C general purpose tube furnace operating with a range of controlled atmospheres.
Cassiopeia		Small diameter (32 mm), single zone 1100 C tube furnace configured with dual mass flow controllers for vapor phase processing.
Columba		Small diameter (32 mm), single zone 1250 C general purpose tube furnace operating with a range of controlled atmospheres.
Orionids		Medium diameter (60 mm), single zone 1200 C general purpose tube furnace with vacuum evacuation system and capable of operating with a range of controlled atmospheres. Furnace is mounted on a computer-controlled linear motion system to enable automated thermal cycling experiments.
Cassiopeia II		Small diameter (32 mm), single zone 1100 C general purpose tube furnace operating with a range of controlled atmospheres.
Andromeda		Front-loading 1200 C box furnace operating in air.
Orion		Front-loading 1600 C box furnace operating in air.
Pegasus		Front-loading, large interior dimension 1150 C box furnace operating in air.
Drying Oven (Hydra)		Vened, forced convection over fr drying slurries and powders during synthesis and processing studies.
Scorpius		Front-loading 1500 C box furnace operating in air.
Pleiades		Bottom-loading (motorized lift) 1600 C box furnace operating in air.