Facilities & Instrumentation
MDERFH offers access and training on a wide array of instrumentation aimed at assessing the performance and durability of natural and engineered materials and systems exposed to a wide range of environmental conditions. A sample preparation lab is also located in close proximity to the Hub’s primary instrumentation to help facilitate efficient usage of the microscopy, metrology, and mechanical characterization instrumentation. All hourly-based and sample-based instrumentation is managed through MDERFH’s iLab Core. Project-based instrumentation is managed by the department in which the instrument resides. Research facilities and staff for running the US EPA’s LEAF Methods are also available through MDERFH, with sample submissions for the LEAF methods handled through MDERFH’s iLab Core. Please click on the individual instruments and methods below to learn more about the capabilities and availability of each instrument/method.
Microscopy
Environmental scanning electron microscope – FEI FEG Quanta 650 with Oxford EDS and EBSD
Optical microscope – Zeiss Axiovert 200m
Mechanical characterization
Triboindenter – Bruker Hysitron TI980
Microtest stage (2kN) – Gatan MTEST2000EW
Electromechanical load frame (50kN) – Tinius Olsen Model 50 ST
Hydraulic load frame (260kN) – Tinius Olsen 60k Super L
Spectroscopy and Chromatography
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) – Perkin Elmer NexION 2000
Laser ablation system – New Wave NWR213 Laser Ablation System (current configuration is coupled with ICP-MS)
Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) – Varian 720-ES
Gas chromatograph + mass spectrometer (GC-MS) – Agilent 5977B
Ion chromatograph – Metrohm 881 Compact Pro
Metrology
Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA)/Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) – TA Instruments Q600 SDT
Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOC) – Shimadzu TOC-L (liquids) and SSM-5000A (solids)
Mercury Analyzer – Milestone DMA-80 evo
Fabrication and Processing
3D Printer – Hyrel Hydra 430 Gantry-style 3D Printer
Sample preparation
Low-speed, wet-cut diamond saw – Allied TechCut 4TM
Semi-automated grinder/polisher – Allied Metprep 3 TM with Power Head
Vibratory polisher – Pace Giga 1200
Planetary ball mill – Fritsch Pulverisette 6 Classic Line
LEAF Methods
LEAF Method 1313: Liquid-Solid Partitioning as a Function of Extract pH Using a Parallel Batch Extraction Procedure
LEAF Method 1314: Liquid-Solid Partitioning as a Function of Liquid-Solid Ratio for Constituents in Solid Materials Using an Up-Flow Percolation Column Procedure
LEAF Method 1315: Mass Transfer Rates of Constituents in Monolithic or Compacted Granular Materials Using a Semi-Dynamic Tank Leaching Procedure
LEAF Method 1316: Liquid-Solid Partitioning as a Function of Liquid-Solid Ratio Using a Parallel Batch Extraction Procedure