MERLIN - Materials Energy Research Lab in Nuclear

Simon and Iuliia in the Lab

MERLIN is our active materials labs with capability for working with uranium compounds.

MERLIN is physically split into two areas:

  • Materials Manufacture
  • Materials Characterisation
For access and information, please contact Dr. Simon Middleburgh.

Equipment List

Materials Manufacture

  • Glove box: MBraun LABStar
    • for handling pyrophoric metal powders and small quantities of uranium
  • Ball Mill: Retsch PM 100
  • Pellet press: Retsch
  • Shaker sieve stack: Retsch AS200
  • Vacuum furnace:
    • Maximum temperature: 2200°C
    •  Atmosphere: vacuum or inert gas.
  • Tube furnace:
    • Maximum temperature: 1800°C
    • Atmosphere:  air, inert gas or hydrogen.
  • Vertical tube furnace:
    • Maximum temperature:1600°C
  • Batch furnace: Carbolite CWF 1300
    • Maximum temperature: 1300°C
  • Drying Oven: Carbolite  
  • Fume hood
  • Sectioning: Buehler Isomet High Speed
  • Metallographic and ceramographic preparation:
    • Grinding and Polishing: Buehler EcoMet 30
    • Mounting: Buehler SimpliMet 4000
  • Spray Dryer: Yamato DL410
  • Bottom-loaded Furnace: Carbolite Giro 30-3000C    
  • Arc Melter: MTI EQ-SP-MSM207

Materials Characterisation

  • Scanning electron microscope: Hitachi TM4000
    • Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy: Oxford Instruments Aztec One
  • Raman microscopy: Bruker SENTERRA II
  • Optical microscopy: Leica DM2700
  • X-ray diffraction: Malvern Panalytical Aeris
    • heated stage capability
  • Simultaneous Thermal Analysis: Netzsch STA 449 F-series (information)
  • Mass Spectrometry: Netzsch QMS 403 Aëolos Quadro
  • Zeta Potential: Cordouan Technologies Wallis Zeta Potentiometer
Vacuum Furnace Valves