MERLIN - Materials Energy Research Lab in Nuclear

Simon and Iuliia in the Lab

Materials labs with capability for working with uranium compounds.

  • Physically split into two areas:
    • Materials Manufacture,
    • Materials Characterisation.
For access and information, please contact Dr. Simon Middleburgh.

Equipment

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

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
Vacuum Furnace Valves