Laboratory facilities
CompuCell Gas management system and its associated equipments
The Compucell system includes a dedicated gas management system and a 800W Dynaload integrated with Powerstation software to test fuel cell output. The gas management system allows the user to control input and output gas conditions which includes volumetric flow rates, pressure, temperature and humidity. The electronic load can operate up to 200A and works in a number of different modes suitable for all testing requirements.
Wind tunnels
Both Open Jet Wind Tunnel and Closed Return Interchangeable module Wind Tunnel have played a vital role in the development of wind turbines. The available wind speeds cover from 0-30 m/s.
Nanotest
The newly-installed Nanotest system offers a complete range of Nanomechanical and nanotribological tests in one single instrument:
- Nanoindentation
- Nano-impact and fatigue
- Nano-scratch and wear
- Nano-fretting
The Nanotest capabilities include:
- Surface/near-surface
- Mechanical properties of thin films and coatings, loads 10 μN - 500 mN
- Hardness
- Modulus
- Creep
- Depth-profiling
- Wear resistance
- Interfacial adhesion
- Fracture toughness
Atomic force microscopes (AFM)
AFM are extremely high-resolution scanning probe microscopes, with demonstrated resolution of fractions of a nanometer, more than 1000 times better than the optical diffraction limit. AFM can be utilised to evaluate the surface quality of products such as surface tribofilms and surface topology.
AFM can also be employed in biological materials (e.g., studying DNA structure), polymeric materials (e.g., studying morphology, mechanical response, and thermal transitions), and semiconductors (e.g., detecting defects).
Tribology Suite
The lab is equipped with 4-ball tester, pin-on-disc tester and rolling-sliding tester. Tribological properties of nanolubricants and solid nanocomposites and unreinforced polymers and other materials can be carried out in the suite.