User Center Overview

Diffraction User Center (DUC)
DUC has both room-temperature and furnace-equipped X-ray diffractometers and access to advanced neuton facilities. The X-ray furnace is used to study material properties at temperatures up to 2700°C in vacuum and up to 1500°C in air. DUC users have access to the X14A beamline within the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Materials Analysis User Center (MAUC)
MAUC researchers employ electron microscopy and surface chemical analysis to determine structure, surface chemistry, and microstructure to the atomic level. Advanced microscopy capabilities allow rapid, direct elemental analysis of grain boundaries in metals and ceramics. Auger spectroscopy is available for analyzing material surfaces.

Mechanical Characterization and Analysis User Center (MCAUC)
MCAUC researchers study fracture toughness, tensile strength, flexure strength, and tensile creep of advanced materials at temperatures to 1500°C in air or controlled atmospheres. Special instrumentation is available for studying fiber-matrix interactions in both metal and ceramic matrix composites.

Residual Stress User Center (RSUC)
RSUC has two principal areas of expertise: X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction. Its X-ray facility includes X-ray diffractometers to measure residual stress and texture in and near the surface of ceramics and alloys. Two systems provide highly flexible sample-tilt systems and either a divergent or a parallel beam.

RSUC users can also access the X14A beamline at NSLS, located at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The neutron residual stress facility, located at the HFIR, includes a special neutron spectrometer for rapid data collection, plus computer capabilities for data analysis. The spectrometer instrumentation allows researchers to quickly measure and map the stress fields inside relatively large solid objects. Accessories include a load frame, a controlled environment furnace and a sample orienter

Thermography and Thermophysical Properties User Center (TTPUC)
TTPUC researchers study thermal stability, expansion, and thermal conductivity of materials. A laser flash instrument measures thermal diffusivity to temperatures of 1900°C. The center also possesses a high-speed, high-sensitivity infrared camera for capturing thermal events digitally, allowing on-line or postoperation measurement of temperatures during rapid transient events.

Tribology Research User Center (TRUC)
TRUC contains numerous specialized instruments for measuring friction and wear, including fretting, rolling, and sliding. TRUC also employs instrumented machine tools to investigate machining processes as applied to hard materials such as ceramics and special alloys. Special emphasis is given to grinding processes. These dynamometer-equipped machines provide unique capabilities for studying grinding and machining parameters and their roles in controlling the topography and mechanical and wear properties of the resulting surfaces.

Inspection capabilities include a high-frequency scanning acoustic microscope, a multisensor coordinate measuring machine, instruments for measuring surface texture and topography, and instruments for determining the dimensional form of axially symmetric objects (e.g., circularity, cylindricity, and concentricity).