Research in Dr. Duty’s lab focuses on the development of new materials and processing conditions for polymer-based additive manufacturing processes. Rheological characterization across a wide range of shear rate and temperatures is a primary focus for understanding the behavior of multi-phase materials during the deposition process. Strategic pieces of equipment that currently exist in the lab or are shared equipment within the department are listed below.
- TA Systems Discovery Series Hybrid Rheometer (DHR-2) combines a patented advanced drag cup motor, a second generation magnetic bearing, force rebalance transducer (FRT), and the new patent-pending True Position Sensor (TPS) in a single-head Hybrid rheometer. The DHR-2 system includes disposable parallel plate geometry attachments.
- DHR Environmental Test Chamber for the DHR-2 provides heating rates up toe 60°C/min and temperature range from ambient to 600°C.
- DMA Mode for DHR Rheometer adds the ability to perform Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of solid specimens in torsion or bending modes.
- TA Systems Q400 Thermo-Mechanical Analyzer can measure multiple modes of deformation at temperatures up to 1,000°C with a precision of ±0.1%.
- Dynisco LCR7001 Capillary Rheometer with LAB KARS software enables high shear rate viscosity measurements at temperatures up to 400°C. The pressure transducer has a range of 0-1400 bar and a load cell rating of up to 2000 lbs. System also includes a laser micrometer diameter measuring system for determining die swell.
- Randcastle Microtruder
- Multiple desktop printers for ABS and PLA thermoplastics
- Makergear M2 3D Printer
- Lulzbot TAZ 6 3D Printer
- Cincinnati Incorporated Big Area Additive Manufacturing System (located at ORNL-MDF)
Large scale coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) characterization system developed by Dr. Duty (patent-pending). The CTE system can characterize samples up to 20 cm cubes using digital image correlation to accuracies within a part-per-million (micron/meter/°C).
- Modified Applied Test Systems oven with multiple imaging windows
- Field of View of 5.8″
- VIC-2D 6 software
- 5 megapixel camera
- VIC-Snap 8 Software
- 1100C compact muffle furnace.
- Drying furnaces (200°C) and desiccant chambers for sample preparation.
- Access to Keyence VHX 5000 Optical microscope, and a Buehler Vickers Knoop Micro-Hardness Tester.
- Sample prep equipment (Buehler low speed diamond saw, Buehler vacuum sample mount system, Allied 8” grinding and polishing wheel)
- Access to MTS C45.105 load frame (100 kN capacity) with tensile, flexural, and compressive loading fixtures.
- Access to multiple scanning electron microscopes, digital scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and standard machine shop equipment within the college and department