Awarded

Tender for supply of a Tungsten / LaB6 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Descriptions

The Institute of Structural Materials at Swansea University specialises in the mechanical characterisation of advanced metallic and ceramic based systems with a particular emphasis placed on the understanding of property – microstructure relationships. To this end, substantial volumes of fractographic inspection are covered on a daily basis where standard SEM facilities are essential. On a more fundamental level, electron back scattered diffraction and chemical mapping (EDS) are employed in order to assess processing, segregation and textural effects on mechanical performance. To date, such facilities have been available within the College of Engineering on a shared basis, however, with approximately 70% of the total access time allowed on that equipment being used by ISM staff and students, it is now essential that the ISM procures its own dedicated equipment to meet the delivery schedules expected by high profile research sponsors such as Roll-Royce and Airbus and to expand our research capabilities.