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 |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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Furnaces
Other Equipment
