UQ Materials Performance utilises world-class research facilities to provide state-of-the-art microscopy, microanalysis and materials testing. Our services in this area are as follows:
- Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS)
- Electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) with wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy (WDS)
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with EDS
- Low-vacuum and environmental SEM
- "CyberSTEM" live & interactive electron microscopy sessions for remote researchers, industry representatives and educators
- Optical Microscopy
- Stereoscopic microscopy
- Research-quality reflected light microscopy
- Quantitative image analysis
- Mechanical Testing
- Tensile testing using a broad range of load frames, including servo-hydraulically actuated and mechanically actuated universal testing machines
- Fatigue and fracture mechanics testing including KIC
- Hardness testing – Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell and Equotip portable
- Charpy and Izod impact testing for metals and polymers
- NATA certification for key tests
- X-ray diffraction
- Identification of crystalline minerals and metallurgical phases present
- Comprehensive mineral and alloy databases maintained
- Quantification using Rietveld analysis
- Surface Analysis
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/ESCA)
- Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)
- Scanning Auger microscopy (SAM)
- Depth profiling