Application Lab – Mechanical and Functional Characterization

The Mechanical and Functional Characterization Application Lab is a space designed to study the properties of materials in depth, with the aim of acquiring a detailed understanding of their behaviour and performance. It is equipped with a wide range of specialised equipment for mechanical, elastic, tribological and electrical characterisation. In addition, many of these techniques are adapted to carry out measurements and treatments at high temperatures.

EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGIES

Micro- and maro- durometers: Brinell, Knoop and Vickers hardnesses (KIC measurement by indentation method)
Brinell, Knoop and Vickers nanoindentation – Nanoscratch and non-contact topography
Macro and micro Scratch Tests
Tribometer with controlled atmosphere and temperature (from ambient to 1000°C, neutral gas or controlled humidity)
Measurement of moduli of elasticity, shear and Poisson’s ratio using the Impulse Excitation Technique (from ambient to 1750°C)
Measurement of Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity (from ambient to 800/1000°C)
Electrochemical measurement unit and electrochemical impedance spectrometry, Potentiostat/Galvanostat/EIS – mobile unit and customisable cells (5 electrodes / ±30mV to ±12 V / ±10nA to ±500 mV / 10 μHz to 7 MHz)
Measurements of thermal conductivity, heat capacity and thermal diffusivity using the hot wire method (from ambient to 1400°C)
Thermomechanical tests up to 1400°C (compression, 3 and 4 point bending, splitting by Brazilian test)
Mechanical tensile and compression tests from -80 to 250°C with video extensometer (max 100 kN)

AUXILIARY PLATFORM EQUIPMENT

Elasticity modulus measurement at 1500°C GrindoSonic (Thermal Characterization Application Lab)
Thermal diffusivity measurement of at high temperature using the flash laser method (Thermal Characterization Application Lab)
Felxural strenght modulus measurement using 3-point bending in accordance with DIN510-48 (Furnace room)
Load sagging equipment (Furnace room)

ASSOCIATED PROJECTS

LOCOTED: Recovery of degraded heat in industrial environments using low-cost thermoelectric modules (ERDF 2014-2020 programming)
SOLHEATAIR: Development of an integrated renewable solution for the production, storage and recovery of thermal energy at very high temperatures (Call 34 – Mecatech cluster)
CHOTHERM: Determining the resistance of refractory materials to thermal shock (Call for pre-normative research 2022)