Major Facilities

Upgradation of research facilities in the department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering is being done continuously for creating a better environment for academics and research. A number of new equipment and instruments are acquired regularly for various laboratories, pertaining to rapidly expanding research horizons. A major fraction of research work related to materials development and characterization are carried out in the melting and heat treatment laboratories, optical and Electron microscopy laboratories, X-ray diffraction laboratory and the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) laboratory. The Physical Metallurgy laboratory, which has traditionally been the most important one in the department, consists of sample preparation section, including Electro-polishers; a number of heat treatment furnaces with programmable control; high temperature (1700oC) furnaces capable of powder sintering.

The optical Microscopy section has been modernized with a number of research grade microscopes with digital imaging facility and micro-hardness testing facility. The acquisition of the Scanning Electron Microscope with EDS system has given a new impetus to advanced research. The department has two Instron Testing machines, one static and the other, a dynamic machine with servo-hydraulic drive for carrying out research in the field of Mechanical Metallurgy. A laboratory scale rolling mill, various hardness testers, Impact testing machine etc are the other facilities available in this area.

Some recent additions have been made to augment the gamut of research areas. The wear testing facility enables investigations in the field of tribology. Researches have been in progress in the field of nanostructured materials, prepared by different routes. Planetary Ball Mills have been installed for the mechanical alloying of powder blends. A device for evaluating magnetic properties of materials is another notable addition in the field of research on new materials. The X-ray diffraction unit for phase identification and the Differential Scanning Calorimeter for characterization are the important facilities, which are now being used extensively for research.

The department also has a well equipped computer laboratory with internet connectivity, which induces researches on simulation and modeling on material development and properties.

The Instrument and Equipment facilities available in the department are:

• Scanning Electron Microscope with EDS facility
• X-ray Diffraction unit (Philips)
• Instron Testing machines - Static & Dynamic (Servo-hydraulic)
• Differential Scanning Calorimeter
• Wear Testing machine
• Magnetic hysterisis measuring device
• Micro-hardness Testers (Leica & Reichart)
• Heat Treatment Furnaces (up to 17000C), Sintering furnace
• Grinding and Polishing facilities, Electropolisher
• Optical Microscopes, including Research microscopes (Carl Zeiss, Leica)
• Impact Testing machine
• Diffusion bonding set-up for joining dissimilar metals
• Planetary Ball Mill for nano-material preparation and Mechanical alloying
• Computer laboratory
• Air Induction furnace
• Friction stir welding Machine
• Hardness Testers