Mechanical Characterisation
Determination of the mechanical properties of materials at the micro and nanoscale impacts their wear and impact resistance, and understanding the stiffness of biological samples gives insights into their function and performance.
About Mechanical Characterisation
Mechanical characterisation investigates how materials respond to external forces, measuring essential properties like strength, hardness, and durability. This capability is deeply integrated into the Imaging and Characterisation theme at the Henry Royce Institute and the University of Sheffield, often alongside compositional and microstructural analysis.
Our Nanocharacterisation Laboratory houses instruments such as nanoindenters, crucial for measuring mechanical properties at extremely small length scales. Furthermore, the Basic Characterisation Laboratory and associated facilities perform macro-scale mechanical testing, including fatigue and fracture analysis, under various environmental conditions. A key related facility is Thermomechanical Processing, which uses machines like the Hot Rolling Mill and Thermo Mechanical Compression Machine for both processing and large-scale mechanical property assessment. This comprehensive mechanical characterisation capability is vital for the Royce's core research areas, particularly Advanced Metals Processing, to validate the performance of new alloys.
Key Equipment
| Equipment | Location | Expert Lead |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Force Microscopy (Bioscope Resolve) | Nanocharacterisation Lab (RDC) | Dr. Xinyue Chen |
| Atomic Force Microscopy (Dimension Icon) | Nanocharacterisation Lab (RDC) | Dr. Xinyue Chen |
| Atomic Force Microscopy (Dimension XR) | Nanocharacterisation Lab (RDC) | Dr. Xinyue Chen |
| Atomic Force Microscopy (Multimode 8) | Nanocharacterisation Lab (RDC) | Dr. Xinyue Chen |
| C-Trap Optical Tweezers | Laser Lab (RDC) | Dr. Xinyue Chen |
| Nanoindentor (Premier) | Nanocharacterisation Lab (RDC) | Dr. Xinyue Chen |
| Nanoindentor (Vantage) | Nanocharacterisation Lab (RDC) | Dr. Xinyue Chen |
| Powder Rheometer | Basic Characterisation Lab (RDC) | Maciej Myszczynski |
| Thermomechanical Compression (TMC) | Thermomechanical Processing Lab (Hadfield) | Dr. Will Pulfrey |
| Tribometer | Tribology Lab (Hadfield) |
Key Case Studies
Enquiries
All enquiries regarding access can be made via email to royce@sheffield.ac.uk
Further information about Equipment Access Schemes and Subsidies can be found here.