Research Facilities used by the CMMP research group are incorporated into four laboratories in the Physics Department at Old Dominion University, and one laboratory at the university's Applied Research Center. In addition, a large array of materials related instruments are located in other departments at ODU and at other organizations collaborating with the CMMP Research Group. The Physics Department houses the Mossbauer, XRD, EIS, VSM, Mechanical Alloying and Optical Microscopy instrumentation, listed in the table above. Click on each item for further details and photographs. The SEM and TEM are located in the Biological Sciences department; and the IC, IR, ICP and NMR systems are located in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. The Micro-Raman spectrometers are located at ISG Research laboratory in Bethlehem Pa., and NIST in Gaithersburg, Md.
The major research involves the in-situ characterization of the microstructural properties of materials using Mössbauer spectroscopy (transmission and scattering), Micro-Raman spectrometry, Infra-Red spectrometry, SEM, TEM, X-ray diffraction, Electron Probe Micro-Analysis, Auger Analysis and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, EIS, facilities include a Potentiostat and Frequency Analyzer. Most materials investigated have commercial or industrial applications with the research centering on the improvement of present or development of new materials and the development of corrosion sensors. A summary of the available instrumentation is included under each topic.
Six stand-alone Mossbauer spectrometers for use in Transmission (TMS) and Scattering (GMS, XMS, CEMS) experiments. TMS facilities operate between temperatures of 4K and 1200K. All systems use pc based data acquisition hardware and software.
Room temperature Transmission Mossbauer systems:
I. Transmission Mossbauer Spectroscopy (Room Temperature). High precision system using Wissel laser calibrated transducer mounted on a floating optical table.
II. Transmission Mossbauer Spectroscopy (Room Temperature). Standard system using Ranger transducer.
Scattering Mossbauer Systems:
III. Scattering Mossbauer Spectroscopy. Elscint transducer used with Toroid detector for GMS, and a gas flow proportional detector for XMS and CEMS at room temperature.
Low Temperature Mossbauer systems:
IV. Transmission Mossbauer Spectroscopy (4K- 300K). Janis 8DT Supervaritemp cryostat on floating optical table using Wissel transducer in horizontal geometry. Mostly used for liquid helium temperatures.
V. Transmission Mossbauer Spectroscopy (4K- 400K). Janis 8DT Varitemp cryostat on floating optical table using Wissel transducer in horizontal geometry.
VI.. Transmission Mossbauer Spectroscopy (4K - 400 K). Cryo Industries 11cc superconducting Mossbauer Cryostat with 9 T Longitudinal magnetic field. Wissel transducer mounted vertically for cold absorber- cold source analysis.
VII. Transmission Mossbauer Spectroscopy (15K - 600K). Flow cryostat-oven system with Ranger transducer.
High Temperature Mossbauer Systems:
VIII. High Temperature Tube furnace (300 K - 1500K) mounts on system I.
Micro-Raman spectrometry is used to map the iron oxides which for in corrosion products on steel. Metallographic cross-sections are analyzed to 2 microns spatial resolution through the thickness of the corrosion coating.
Two Micro-Raman spectrometers are used.
1. Renashaw Micro-Raman Spectrometer with 10 mW He-Ne Laser is available at the International Steel Group Research Laboratory, Bethlehem, Pa.
2. Dilor LabRam Micro-Raman Spectrometer with 16 mW He-Ne laser is available at Instruments SA in Edison, NJ.
Philips Model 1710 Powder X-ray diffractometer using a Cu tube is used to help identify the oxide phases in rust and supports our other spectroscopic analyses. Rietveld and Warren-Averbach methods are used for accurate crystalline analysis and crystallite size and strain calculations.
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy:
Potentiostatic and potentiodynamic measurements use an EG&G PAR Model 273 Potentiostat operating with CorrWare software. Impedance measurement use Solartron model 1560 Frequency Response Analyzer.
Olympus Model PMG3 metallographic Microscope is used for studying metallographic cross-sections of corroded steels and artifacts prior to Micro-Raman Analysis.
Scanning Electron Microscopy with EDS:
Vibrating Sample Magnetometer:
EG&G PAR model 4500 VSM with 2T Magnion electromagnet permits bulk magnetization at temperatures between 4K and 300K. The VSM probes also runs in the 9T superconducting magnet cryostat.
Uni-Ball Mill permits samples to be processed at temperatures between 300K and 1200K and in gases up to 2 atmospheres.
Five liquid helium cryostats are used for various experiments, mainly low temperature transmission Mossbauer spectroscopy. Four cryostats operate between 4K-400K with one containing a 9T superconducting magnet. The fifth cryostat is used for bulk magnetization measurements in the VSM.
Basic IR spectrometry is performed in the Chemistry Department.