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Equipment

Physical metallurgy

Retsch Emax mill

Grinding equipment that is used to mix powder mixtures, but also to refine powders in steel or zirconia containers. The Retsch Emax mill can also be used for the mechanical alloying of alloys.

Retsch PM100 mill

Planetary mill with steel vessels, used for mechanical alloying of metal powders. The grinding vessels and grinding bodies with a diameter of 2 cm are made of AISI 420 steel. Thanks to the vessels with filling valves, mechanical alloying can be carried out in different atmospheres.

Metallographic optical microscope Nikon Eclipse MA 200

This is an optical microscope for observation in light reflection mode. The magnification is in the range of 50-1000x. It also has a polarizing and DIC filter as well as a digital camera and software for image capture, processing and analysis.

TESCAN MIRA 2 LMU scanning electron microscope

The TESCAN MIRA 2 LMU scanning electron microscope enables detailed observation of the microstructure of not only metallic materials at magnifications up to 50x. At the same time, thanks to the EDS and EBSD detector, this device can be used for chemical or crystallographic analysis.

Automatic metallographic polisher ATM Saphir 520

The automatic metallographic polisher allows polishing of up to 5 samples simultaneously. It is equipped with an automatic dispenser with 4 paths, which are used to dispense diamond suspensions and also wetting agents. The pressure force on the sample and the different polishing modes can be adjusted.

Spark plasma sintering machine FCT Systeme HP-D 10

Powder compaction device capable of preparing cylindrical samples with diameters of 20, 30 and 50 mm. By passing a current through the powder material, ultra-high heating rates are achieved and compaction occurs under pressure.

LabTest 5.250SP1-VM universal testing machine

Universal testing machine for tensile, compressive and flexural strength testing of materials at laboratory temperature and at elevated temperatures up to 1200 °C. The machine is equipped with a laser strain gauge for precise measurement of the deformation of the specimen.

Atomic Emission Spectrometer Horiba JobinYvon GD Profiler II

The spectrometer is equipped with radio frequency glow discharge excitation. With controlled surface sputtering, it enables chemical bulk and surface profile analysis of conductive and non-conductive samples

Scanning electron microscope TESCAN VEGA 3 LMU

The TESCAN VEGA 3 LMU scanning electron microscope enables the observation of both conductive and non-conductive materials thanks to the selectable pressure in the working chamber. Thanks to the OXFORD Instruments INCA 350 EDS analyzer, it also allows chemical microanalysis of the observed sample

Coater Quorum Q150R ES

The Quorum Q150R ES sputter coater is used to coat materials, which is usually used to increase the conductivity of the material for electron microscopy. Au is most commonly used for plating, although other metals such as Ag can also be used. Metal layer thicknesses can be as low as 1 nm depending on the setup.

Precision metallographic saw ATM Brillant 220

The saw enables precise cutting of a wide range of materials from polymers to metallic materials and ceramics. Corundum, diamond or CBN burrs can be used for cutting. To limit the thermal impact on the material, the saw is equipped with water cooling

Laser diffraction Malvern Mastersizer 3000

The Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction is used to determine the particle size distribution of powders. Measurements can be made in both dry and wet configurations of the instrument.

Hardness testers

Hardness testers for indentation hardness tests according to Vickers, Brinell and Rockwell.

FutureTech FM700 Microhardness tester

The FutureTech FM700 semi-automatic micro-hardness tester is used for measuring Vickers hardness at low to medium loads (1 g to 1 kg). It is equipped with several lenses, allowing the measurement of materials with a large range of hardnesses.

Pin-on Disc & Oscillating TRIBOtester

The instrument enables the measurement of tribological properties of materials in linear and rotational arrangement by the Pin-on Disc method. Various materials can be used as the abrasion body, most commonly corundum or steel balls. The instrument is also equipped with a profilometer that can determine the surface roughness and the depth of the abrasion mark with high accuracy.

Vacuum induction furnace

Modernised Leybold-Heraeus vacuum induction furnace for melting and casting in a vacuum or inert atmosphere.

Muffle furnaces

Muffle furnaces for annealing at temperatures up to 1200 °C. They have a programmable controller for detailed temperature cycle settings.

Centrifugal Atomiser

Equipment for the production of rapidly solidified aluminium alloy powders by centrifugal atomisation. The device is equipped with induction heating for melting the charge (max. 1 kg). A cooling rate of approx. 10²K/s is achieved.

Equipment for rapid cooling by melt spinning

Equipment for the production of rapidly solidified strips of aluminum alloys by centrifugal atomisation. The device is equipped with induction heating for melting the charge (max. 40 g). A cooling rate of 10³-10⁵ K/s is achieved.

Olympus PME3 metallographic light microscope

Metallographic microscope for observation in the magnification range 50 - 1000x. It has polarizing filters and differential interference contrast. It is equipped with a colour digital camera and software for image capture, processing and analysis.

Carl Zeiss Neophot 2 metallographic light microscope

Metallographic microscope for observation in the magnification range 50 - 2000x. In addition to observation, it also allows microhardness measurements according to Vickers with a load of 5 - 100 g. It is equipped with a colour digital camera and software for image capture, processing and analysis.

Glovebox

The device allows laboratory work and tests with hazardous substances, work in anaerobic or free gas environments.

Chemical metallurgy

Hydrogen furnace

This furnace allows the annealing of samples in various atmospheres up to 1000 °C. It is most often used for annealing in a vacuum, argon or hydrogen atmosphere.

Vibrating laboratory mill VM4

The machine allows the grinding of raw materials and materials up to a hardness of 9 Mohs in a single operation in quantities up to 200 grams of sample weight and grain size up to 10 mm. It is equipped with a timing device.

Fritsch Analysette 3 sieving machine

The sieving machine enables quantitative particle size analysis of solids (4 mm - 45 mm) with selectable amplitude and sieving time.

Atomic absorption spectrometer GBC 932Plus

The instrument is used to determine the concentrations of mainly metallic elements in solutions. Atomization is flame (air-acetylene or N2O-acetylene). The detection limits and the range of concentrations analysed depend on the specific element and matrix, typically in ppm, peak and ppb.

Büchi Glas Uster autoclave

The autoclave is used to leach materials in various media at elevated pressures and temperatures. The 1 l reaction glass vessel is equipped with a Teflon anchor agitator. The achievable pressure is 600 kPa and the temperature 120 °C. Heating is provided via a double-walled reaction vessel.

Autoclave Parr

The equipment enables the leaching of materials in various media at high pressures and temperatures. The Hastelloy reaction vessel is equipped with a 1.8 l glass liner. The internal equipment consists of a cooling hose allowing controlled cooling and a stirrer made of Hastelloy material. The achievable pressure is 10 MPa and the temperature 300 °C. Heating is provided by an electric heating jacket. The autoclave is equipped with a sampling device.

Stuart Scientific STR4 rotator

Used to perform liquid extraction, homogenization and mixing of liquid samples. Tubes of different diameters and volumes can be clamped in the instrument. It is equipped with infinitely variable rotation speed control and a timing device.

Corrosion Engineering

Potentiostats Gamry, Zahner and PalmSens

The potentiostat is used to make electrochemical measurements that are central to describing the corrosion behaviour of metals in different environments. The instrument allows the measurement of polarization curves, spontaneous corrosion potential, the use of AC-based methods and other techniques important for describing corrosion phenomena. Electrochemical measurements can be performed in a Faraday cage. Gamry Interface 1010B, Gamry Reference 620, Gamry FAS1, Zahner PP201, Zahner Zennium Pro, PalmSens4.

UV-VIS spectrometer UV-M90

The spectrometer measures the absorbance of solutions in the UV-VIS wavelength range. Suitable for quantitative analysis of solutions.

Dionex ICS-6000DC Ion Chromatograph

The Dionex ICS-6000 DC is used for the analysis of ions in solutions. Even very low concentrations of anions and cations can be determined by ion chromatography.

Agilent 34970A and Keithley DAQ6510 multimeters

A multimeter is a universal programmable measuring instrument that can be used to measure various electrical quantities - resistance, voltage, etc. The application in electrochemistry is mainly in the multi-channel measurement of spontaneous corrosion potentials against a reference electrode.

MetriCorr ACD-03 and CorrSen data loggers

These dataloggers are used to measure and record data in corrosion monitoring using resistometric sensors.

Mettler Toledo automatic titrator

Titration unit for more efficient titration. The determination of the concentration of substances in solution is measured electrochemically - the equivalence point is given by the change in potential.

SEE System goniometer (ADVEX Instruments)

The instrument allows the determination of wetting angle and surface energy.

Olympus SZX10 Stereomicroscope

The Olympus stereomicroscope is suitable for observing reliefs thanks to its two optical paths. It is therefore most often used to view corrosion products or surface damage.

Comtest OP (Coming Plus)

The instrument can be used to directly measure the adhesion of the coating to the substrate - the tear-off force/stress.

Surftest SJ-201 (Mitutoyo)

The instrument is designed to measure surface roughness. In addition to the standard statistical values of Ra, Rz, etc., it is possible to obtain a linear record of values when connected to a PC.

Climate chamber KBF 240 (Binder)

The chamber allows cyclical alternation of conditions - temperature and relative humidity (e.g. test according to Volvo STD 1027). Temperature range -10 to +60 °C and RH 10 to 95 %.

Climate chamber HCP 108 (Memmert)

The chamber is unique in its ability to test at high temperatures and relative humidity (up to 80% RH at 80 °C).

Glovebox

For experiments requiring anaerobic conditions, a glovebox can be used to perform various electrochemical measurements.

Ultramicrometers Sartorius Cubis

Scales for precise weight measurement with an accuracy of 0.0001 mg.

Laminar box Alpina

The Alpina Laminar Box is also equipped with a Philips UVC lamp, allowing you to work in a sterile environment.

Tuttnauer 2340MR sterilizer

The Tuttnauer 2340MR sterilizer is an autoclave-type device that makes it possible to create a sterile environment even at different temperatures.

UV-VIS spectrometer UV-M90

The spectrometer measures the absorbance of solutions in the UV-VIS wavelength range. Suitable for quantitative analysis of solutions.

Computer-controlled source

The computer-controlled power supply allows the use of adjustable voltages in the range up to 160 V.

INCU-LINE VWR I10 incubators

Heated chamber incubators are used for simulations of the in-body environment and are therefore mainly used for testing the corrosion properties of biomaterials. The equipment can be supplemented with a UVC lamp to ensure sterile conditions.

Apparatus for corrosion measurements by the bulk method

This mercury-containing apparatus allows the measurement of corrosion rate by detecting the volume of gas generated.

Updated: 7.4.2025 11:58, Author: Hana Thürlová