Capabilities

Icing Setup (in NSL Lab)

Icing setup is used for testing ice adhesion on surfaces at -25℃. It consists of a transparent double-wall container, an aluminium frame, a base plate, a compact heat exchanger (P1805368, UK Exchangers), 4 axial fans, situated below the heat exchanger (ARX CeraDyna Series, RS Components), a rotary aluminium stage, a plastic shaft and two Peltier cooling modules located between the aluminium stage and the heat exchanger. It is capable of applying variable velocity and force measurements.

Condensation Setup (in NSL Lab)

LTCL 400 (TAS UK LTD) is an environmental chamber for phase change processes. It consists of a fully seam welded stainless steel inner chamber and is enclosed in a mild steel outer shell. Between the two is a layer of mineral fibre and foam insulation. A fully-hermetic air cooled refrigeration system is used to lower the temperature of the inner chamber where the refrigerant is being passed through a finned evaporator coil located at the rear of the chamber behind an air baffle system. The refrigeration plant is located in the lower compartment of the chamber and exhausts warm air to the BACK of the machine. Heating of the chamber is affected by Inconnel sheathed heater elements located behind the baffle system. Humidification is generated by injecting air into a hot water bath and subsequently into the chamber working area. De-humidification is achieved by the use of a ‘dew point’ coil with anti-icing features. Temperature sensing is performed via PRT100 thermometers and Humidity sensing is done via a solid state sensor.

Discovery Hybrid Rheometer (in NSL Lab)

Advances in core measurement technology enable more sensitive measurements with superior precision. This empowers scientists to measure lower viscosities and track weaker liquid and soft-solid structure, while consuming less material.  DHR performs stress and strain-controlled measurement with high-speed electronics and the responsive Advanced Drag Cup Motor, providing the fastest transient responses and accurate control in any type of deformation. Direct Strain oscillation provides real-time strain control at every point of the oscillatory measurement. Responsive strain control ensures rapid data collection and the highest data quality, particularly when evaluating materials that show a non-linear response at very large amplitudes or undergoing transitions. DHRs benefit from Magnetic Thrust Bearing, which reduces basic system friction by 70% compared to traditional designs and therefore lower torques can be measured reliably and accurately.

Wettability Setup (in NSL Lab)

Contact angle measurement of droplets is based on a custom made goniometer setup. The setup consists of an adjustable stage, a syringe pump, a light source, and a CMOS camera. Videos of the droplet during advancing and receding phases are analysed with a MATLAB code for measuring the contact angles and the hysteresis.

High Resolution 3D Printing Setup (in NSL-CBH Lab)

3D printing is a layer-by-layer deposition of ink from the nozzle and syringe. The extruded droplets retain their shape and form a pattern on the substrate. This 3D printer has high flexibility with regards to pattern complexity, ease of programming (G-Code), high spatial resolution (~ micrometers), printing speed (mm/min − m/min), and printing pressure.

Super Ink Jet Printer (in NSL Lab)

Our Nanomanufacturing Lab which is hosting our bespoke electrohydrodynamic printer (from SIJ Technology Inc of Japan) within our Nanoengineering dedicated electronics manufacturing lab. A cutting-edge research system capable of jetting femtolitre droplets to create sub-micron features. This system is capable of printing in 2 and 2.5D space.

Pure steam condensation setup (in NSL Lab)

Motivation: Nanoengineered coatings on surface condensers can help improve steam plant efficiency by preventing condensate build up. In order to benchmark the coating’s performance, a sub-atmospheric (<10 Pa) steam condensation setup is being used.

The setup requires a short metal tube, coated with the formulation being tested, to be inserted into a flow loop. A boiler, capable of delivering 4 kg of steam is used to deliver pure steam into the evacuated chamber. Coating efficiency is measured as the thermal resistance between vapour and metal surface (which includes size and distribution of the condensate.

Laser induced particle impact setup (in NSL Lab)

Understanding how nanomaterials fail during high speed impact is essential to designing resilient structures for aerospace, wind turbines, etc. The impact resistance can be characterized with high strain rate tests in laboratory conditions. Procedures such as split bar Hopkinson bar tests can achieve strain rates upto 10³-10⁵ s^-1 but do not provide any insights to micromechanical behavior as those obtained from nanoindentation tests are limited to 10^-4 to 10^-1 s^-1. Ballistic nanoindenters can achieve upto 10⁵ s^-1 (similar to split Hopkinson bar test) but are expensive.

Laser induced particle ejection can achieve more than 1 km/s with solid microparticles and more than 300 m/s with liquid microjets. Coupled with a high frame rate Kirana 5M (5 million frames per second), this setup provides unique and fundamental insights to the impact at small time and lengthscales.

Electronics lab (in NSL Lab)

Our team is equipped with a dedicated electronics lab, designed to facilitate the creation and development of bespoke electronics and prototypes, thereby accelerating innovation within our group. The lab boasts a comprehensive array of advanced testing and measurement instruments, and is fully capable of manufacturing prototype mechatronic systems with surface-mount components, all produced in-house.

Freeze Dryer (in NSL-CBH Lab)

Our lab is equipped with a Labconco FreeZone Freeze Dryer featuring a -84°C temperature option. This advanced system allows for efficient and reliable lyophilization of sensitive biological and chemical samples, supporting a wide range of research applications that require ultra-low temperature drying.

Atomic Force Microscope (in NSL Lab)

Our laboratory is equipped with the Bruker MultiMode 8-HR Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), a state-of-the-art instrument renowned for its superior resolution, performance, and versatility in nanoscale research. This AFM enables us to conduct high-resolution imaging and quantitative nanomechanical mapping, facilitating advanced investigations across various materials and biological samples. ​The MultiMode 8-HR is designed to leverage Bruker's exclusive PeakForce Tapping technology, allowing for significantly faster imaging speeds without compromising data quality. This capability enhances our ability to observe molecular and biological structures, such as proteins and DNA double helices, with exceptional detail.

3D Digital Microscope VHX-7000 (in MechEng center)

The VHX series, world's first 4K Ultra-High accuracy microscope, offers observation that exceeds conventional imaging tools. The VHX Series is equipped with all the features needed to enhance imaging. Even when the target has an uneven surface, a fully-focused image is obtained instantly, composed of multiple images with varying focus positions, providing a 3D display to observe surface contours as well. Its easy-to-use interface can be used effectively by expert and novice users. All adjustments including XYZ, magnification, focus, and light settings are controlled automatically such that the user simply places the target on the stage, and everything else is fully automatic requiring minimum intervention from the user.

Planetary Ball Mill PM 100 (in MechEng center)

The PM 100, housed in the Central Facility of Mechanical Engineering, is a planetary ball mill designed for efficient grinding, mixing, and homogenization. It features a single grinding station that utilizes high-speed rotational motion to generate strong impact and friction forces, making it ideal for processing hard, brittle, and fibrous materials. With precise control over milling parameters such as speed and duration, it ensures reproducible results in material synthesis, nanomaterial production, and mechanical alloying.

Instron Testing Machine (in MechEng center)

The Instron machines (Instron 5969 and 5985) in the Central Facility of Mechanical Engineering are capable of performing static testing in both tension and compression modes. These systems can be integrated with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) instruments for precise strain analysis. The Instron 5969 model accommodates load cells of 500 N and 50 kN, while the Instron 5985 model offers greater versatility with load capacities of 500 N, 10 kN, and 250 kN. Furthermore, the 5985 model is equipped with a temperature-controlled furnace and a liquid nitrogen inlet, enabling testing under controlled thermal conditions.

DMA 850 – Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (in MechEng center)

The DMA 850 in the Central Facility of Mechanical Engineering is used to investigate the mechanical properties of materials under dynamic conditions, considering their dependence on temperature, time, and frequency. With an operational temperature range from -160 °C to 600 °C, it is capable of measuring forces as low as 0.1 mN and detecting oscillation displacements as small as 5 nm. Its versatility enables testing in various modes, including tension, compression, three-point bending, and shear, making it a powerful tool for comprehensive material characterization.

TGA – thermogravimetric analysis (in MechEng center)

The TA Instruments Discovery SDT 650 in the Central Facility of Mechanical Engineering is used for thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) applications. The SDT 650 offers a temperature range from ambient to 1500°C and features an ultra-low drift balance design, ensuring precise weight measurements. 

DSC – differential scanning calorimeter (in MechEng center)

The DSC 3 STARe System from METTLER TOLEDO in the Central Facility of Mechanical Engineering is a state-of-the-art differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) designed for comprehensive thermal analysis. It is equipped with 56 thermocouples, this sensor ensures the detection of both subtle and significant thermal events, providing high-resolution and sensitive measurements.

FTIR – Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (in MechEng center)

The Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS50 FT-IR Spectrometer in the Central Facility of Mechanical Engineering is a versatile and advanced instrument designed to address complex analytical challenges. This spectrometer serves as an all-in-one materials analysis workstation, featuring purpose-built accessories and integrated software that facilitate seamless operation. Its flexible design allows for upgrades from a basic FT-IR bench to a fully automated, multi-spectral range system capable of acquiring spectra from the far-infrared to visible regions. With the Nicolet iS50, we can perform various sampling techniques, including transmission, specular and diffuse reflection, and attenuated total reflection (ATR), enabling comprehensive analysis of a wide range of materials.

SEM – scanning electron microscope (in MechEng center)

Two advanced scanning electron microscopes (SEMs), the ZEISS EVO 10 and the ZEISS GeminiSEM 360, in the Central Facility of Mechanical Engineering are used for detailed surface and structural analysis. The EVO 10 is a versatile SEM designed for high-performance imaging and analysis across a wide range of applications. The GeminiSEM 360, featuring the Gemini 1 electron optical column, offers high-resolution imaging and analytics, making it ideal for both materials and life sciences research.