We have a variety of in situ testing platforms that allow high-resolution, real-time observation of material behaviour under mechanical and thermal stimuli inside scanning electron microscopes.
Our main facilities include:
- An Alemnis micromechanical testing stage (Alemnis Standard Assembly)
- Two Deben Microtest tensile/compression/bending stages
- A Gatan Murano heating stage
- A Gatan C1003 cryo stage*
Accordion Widget
- Alemnis standard assembly
- Deben Microtest 300 N mechanical testing stage & 2 kN mechanical testing stage with heating and in situ EBSD
- Gatan Murano heating stage
- Gatan C1003 cryo stage
- References
The Alemnis standard assembly is highly effective for measuring the micromechanical properties of materials and analysing the local mechanical behaviour of individual microstructural units.
With a wide range of indenter tip geometries and careful experimental design, we can perform various types of micromechanical tests, such as fibre bending, push-out testing, and powder compression.
These tests are often combined with focussed ion beam (FIB) milling of small-scale specimens and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), enabling the testing of small-scale samples with known crystal orientations and well-defined geometries. This approach allows for the exploration of the fundamental properties of materials during deformation and fracture.
Fibre push-out tests of a ceramic matrix composite [1].
Microcantilever bending test of Zr3AlC2 MAX phase.
Micropillar compression test of hydrides in zirconium [2].
These two stages are ideal for testing the mechanical properties and observing the failure processes of larger-scale specimens under tension, compression, and bending configurations, providing a more direct representation of material degradation and failure mechanisms seen in real-world engineering applications.
The 2 kN stage also supports in situ EBSD analysis and heating up to 1000 °C.
3-point bending test of an alumina-steel composite. Courtesy of Dr Shitong Zhou.
2D strain maps on the surface of a zirconium sample during tensile test.
Microstructural evolution during in situ creep test of Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu solder [3].
The Murano heating stage is designed for in situ heating experiments (up to 950°C), making it suitable for studying thermal processes such as phase transformation and thermal stress-induced degradation.
The facility also supports in situ EBSD characterisation with a pre-tilted stage holder and a Bruker high-temperature phosphor.
In situ EBSD characterisation of blocky α grain growth in zirconium [4].
In situ EBSD characterisation of the microstructural evolution of Cu/Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu/Cu solder joint during thermal cycling [5].
The C1003 cryo stage operates in the temperature range between -185 °C and 400 °C, and is ideal for studying temperature-sensitive materials, preserving hydrated samples like biological tissues, preventing beam damage to soft polymers or volatile compounds, and enabling the observation of dynamic temperature-dependent phenomena such as phase transitions and structural changes in materials.
The stage is currently being used to understand the low-temperature behaviour of various materials, including polymer composites, for liquid hydrogen storage.
References
[1] O. Gavalda-Diaz et al., Acta Mater., 215 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2021.117125
[2] S. Wang et al., Acta Mater., 200 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2020.09.038
[3] T. Gu et al., Acta Mater., 196 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2020.06.013
[4] R. M. Birch & T. B. Britton, Acta Mater., 278 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2024.120151
[5] T. Gu et al., Scripta Mater., 175 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2019.09.003
* We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Professor Ben Britton, whose support helped establish some of these facilities.
People List Widget
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Professor Finn Giuliani
Location
Department of Materials
LM04D, Royal School of MinesSupport with
Academic Lead of the facility
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Dr Siyang Wang
Location
Department of Materials
LG04, Royal School of Mines
Support with
Alemnis micromechanical test stage
Deben Microtest 300/2k N stages
Gatan Murano heating stage
Gatan C1003 cryo stage
In situ EBSD characterisation with Microtest & Murano stages -
Dr Oriol Gavalda Diaz
Location
Department of Materials
1.04, Royal School of MinesSupport with
Alemnis micromechanical test stage
Deben Microtest 300/2k N stages
Gatan Murano heating stage