Materials Science Central Facilities

Teaching Laboratory 2
Of our two teaching laboratories this one is our "wet" lab.  It provides students and researchers with access to basic heat-treating facilities, specimen preparation equipment, a fume hood, chemicals, plus an open work space and other basic laboratory tools.The use of this laboratory is nearly equally divided between teaching laboratory courses and research.

Specimen Preparation Equipment
The specimen preparation equipment in this laboratory is used in the initial stages of the preparation of metallographic specimens and for routine, manual polishing and etching of these specimens. This equipment provides the undergraduate student’s with their first exposure to metallography and provides basic specimen preparation support for graduate research.

Buehler Handimet 2
The Handimet 2 is used for the manual fine grinding of metallographic specimens. It features four grinding platens containing 240, 320, 400 and 600 grit silicon carbide grinding papers. A continuous water flush keeps the specimen cool and removes grinding residue. Grinding papers are provided. The are two Handimet 2's in this laboratory.

Buehler Simplimet 3
The Simplimet 3 is an automatic electro-hydraulic specimen mounting press. To mount a specimen the operator simply loads the press, starts the automatic molding sequence and returns 7 to 9 minutes later to remove a cool, mounted sample. The essential specifications of the Simplimet 3 include a maximum 200°C molding temperature which can be specified in 10°C steps, 0 to 4400 psi mounting pressure in 10 psi steps, 1 second to 30 minute molding time and a 100 psi preload. In addition, all controls and readouts are digital. Molding media can be Bakelite, Transoptic powder or any of Buehler’s other molding powders or premolds. A modest stock of Bakelite and Transoptic powders is kept on hand. The mold size has a diameter of 1¼-inches. Two Simplimet 3's are located in this laboratory.

Note: We have standardized our specimen preparation equipment on 1¼-inch diameter mounted specimens.  The mounting presses and our better polisher/grinders all accept 1¼-inch specimens. 

Buehler Samplmet 2
The Samplmet 2 abrasive cutter is used for primary the sectioning of a large components to obtain the small parts which can be used in a metallographic examination. It is powered by a 1 HP motor, uses 9-inch abrasive cut-off wheels and can cut solid stock up to 1¾-inches diameter and any practical length. A limited selection of abrasive cut-off wheels is provided.

Permission: Do not use this saw without first contacting the laboratory's manager to discuss the selection of the best type of abrasive wheel to use, proper operating techniques, supplies, and clean-up.

Grinder/Polishing Tables
Five general-purpose grinding/polishing wheels mounted in two tables are available in this laboratory. All five units feature 8-inch polishing wheels and dual-speed motors. These grinder/polishers are used in several of the undergraduate laboratory classes and for routine specimen preparation. The user must supply all grinding and polishing materials.

Important: Do not leave your polishing cloths on the wheels. They will not be useful to anyone else so you should either take them with you can dispose of them.  If left on the wheels long enough they can become very difficult to remove, making the next person's work in this lab much more difficult.

Furnaces
This laboratory has a number of furnaces which can be used for operations ranging from oven curing and drying to the heat treatment of steels. A summary of the furnaces available in this laboratory is given in the table below.

Note: None of these furnaces are capable of heat treating a sample in a vacuum or artificial in an  atmosphere.

Note: There is a tube furnace in room 119 which can go as high as 1650°C.

Other Equipment and Facilities
Other equipment and facilities in this laboratory include a standard chemical fume hood, cabinets for the storage of wet (acids, bases and flammables) and dry chemicals, an electronic balance (0-400g x 0.01g), a hot plate/stirrer and an ultrasonic cleaner(2.81L). There is also an open work bench with a 4-inch vise, a Jominy quench tank and a source of deionized water. In addition there is a small selection of basic laboratory glassware, tools and the appropriate personal protective equipment.

Division of Materials Science
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Updated on June 25, 2001

Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616
USA
Phone: 530/752-0400
Web: www.chms.ucdavis.edu