Centre for Ceramic Processing (CCP)

A) Model & Make

STA 449 Jupiter - Netzsch GmbH, Germany

Specifications

Details

Measures TGA/DTA and DSC simultaneously from room temperature to 1400^o C.

In STA, the sample is subjected to a controlled temperature programme of heating where the change in mass, the absolute sample temperature and the difference in temperature of sample with a reference are measured simultaneously and monitored very accurately. With a proper calibration the heat flux to and from the sample can be calculated which in turn helps in determining the specific heat as a function of temperature. The specific heat of a material is an important thermodynamic parameter which helps to study and understand the mechanism of phase transitions etc.

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Centre for Carbon Materials

Model and Make

Solartron SI 1260A

Specifications

Details

Measures of impedance, capacitance, modulus, permittivity and dielectric loss

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model and Make

Netzsch GmbH Germany

Specifications

Details

Test mode - 3 and 4 point bend

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model and Make

PCM 100 N, Sama GmbH Germany

Specifications

Details

Can cast solid and hollow structures including complex shapes

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model and Make

Fraunhoper Institute, IZFP, GmbH Germany

Specifications

Moisture range: 0-20%

Details

Moisture in green ceramics can be estimated for flat and complex shapes

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model and Make

MS3000, Malvern Instruments Ltd., UK

Specifications

Details

Measures particle size distribution and size

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model & Make

Abrasmatic 300 cutter; Buehler, USA

Specifications

Details Dry and wet ceramic/metal cutting for green and sintered bodies

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model and Make

Thermo-Star GmbH, Germany

Specifications

Details

Bottom Loading type, 8 heating elements ensuring uniform temperature super Kanthal heating elements

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model & Make

SM Scientech 2005, Kolkata

Specifications

Water evaporation capability is 20 litres/ hr.

Details

Aqueous solutions (various molarities) of metal nitrate salts along with pre determined quantities of additives is fed via a peristaltic pump and atomized at a particular pressure of compressed clean/dry air is allowed to enter in to a hot zone to under go pyrolysis. The temperature is again a predetermined one for a given composition with the help of thermal analysis.Required temperature in pyrolysing chamber is generated by blowing hot air to have the advantage of cyclonic classification possible for the product powders as a function of their size. Operating parameters for each composition can be stabilized by studying the effect of (solution) feed rate & molarity, pyrolysis temperature and atomizing pressure to achieve the highest yield. Nano powders such as doped/pure ZnO, ZrO₂, YSZ, Lanthanum Strontium Manganate-LSM in bulk (kg level) can be synthesized

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model & Make

BCHI Mini Spray Dryer B-290

Specifications

Details

Spray drying process is to dry aqueous or organic slurries involving the steps of feeding the slurry solution with Peristaltic Pump followed by dispersion with spray nozzle, evaporation with drying cylinder and separation granules with cyclone/fitter.

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model & Make

VT, Neptune Eng. Co, Gujarat

Specifications

Press capacity - 40 Tons

Details

Ram type and Screw type extruders for extrusion forming of high symmetric ceramic parts such as honeycombs, tubes, seals etc. Capability to extrude alumina, zirconia, cordierite, silicon carbide, mullite etc.

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model & Make

40/PR-6/PM-14/99-2000, Peeco Hydraulic Pvt. Ltd., Calcutta

Specifications

Capacity of 25 Tons

Details

For the consolidation of advanced ceramic components.

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model & Make

AIP, USA

Specifications

Details

Hot isostatic press applies both pressure and temperature to form and uniformly densify a particular material. Pressure is applied inside a vessel by compressing a gas medium, such as argon while the heat is supplied through a resistance-heated furnace, also located inside the pressure vessel. Temperature and pressure are monitored and controlled within a specified tolerance throughout the process, and a computer provides man/machine interfacing. Density near to theoretical density can be achieved.

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model & Make

Netzsch GmbH, Germany / FRITSCH, Germany

Specifications

Details

Mechanical mills are used for mechanical alloying (MA) and synthesizing nanostructured powders. The process can be carried out in small shaker mill for processing a few grams of powder or in high energy mills such planetry mill and an attritor.

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model & Make

Struers, USA

Specifications

Standard ceramographic preparations with smart dosing

Details

A semi-automatic grinding and polishing machine with an automatic suspension dispenser is used for the grinding and polishing of ceramic samples.

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Three types of CVD are available at ARCI

A. Laboratory Set-Up CVD

Model / Make

Custom-made Russia

Specifications

Details

Chemical vapor deposition of hydrocarbons over a metal catalyst is a classical method that has been used to produce various carbon materials such as carbon fibers and filaments. Used at ARCI for synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes

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Centre for Carbon Materials

B. CVD Unit

Model & Make

MPA Industrie, France

Specifications

CVD has four parts: a) reactor where in the reaction takes place at desired temperatures and pressures b) a gas control panel for the precise control and flow of gases c) scrubber for chemically treating the un-reacted gases d) control panel for process control

Details

The Chemical Vapour Deposition unit is employed for the deposition of thin and thick film coatings by a chemical reaction of the precursors. The deposition is allowed to take place on suitably designed substrates at controlled deposition rates of 50-150 microns/minute. Self standing monoliths could be prepared by carefully removing the deposits from the substrates.

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

C. CVD System

Model & Make

1675, Advanced Vacuum System

Specifications

Details

Used for depositing SiC coating on the SiC substrate and also to make CVD-SiC stand alone parts. The CVD-SiC made has the density close to theoretical value with very high purity. The surface finish achieved on the CVD coated SiC substrate is 3-4 nm. Maximum 1 m dia. Component can be coated and SiC coating uniformity can be achieved within 10-15%.

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Centre for Non-Oxide Ceramics

A. Model & Make:

MCR 51, Anton Paar, GmbH

Specification

Details

The equipment is equipped with a high resolution optical encoder which enables precise measurement of the angular deflection and can perform the following measurements

Viscosity with varying shear rates, Viscosity with varying shear stress, Viscosity with varying time, Viscosity with varying temperature, Creep test, Stress relaxation test, Oscillatory tests, Multi wave test, Amplitude Sweep, Frequency Sweep, Temp, Sweep and Time Sweep.

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

B. Model & Make :

R/S-CPS+, Brookfield, USA

Specification

Details

It allows the Rheological characterization (viscosity measurements) of both Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluids; A broad measurement range, testing for yield properties and the ability to flow properties of fluids with delicate structures. This Rheometer is a rotational controlled stress instrument with geometries (cone and Plate). The geometry is directly connected to the motor shaft. A current is applied to the Rheometer motor, and the resulting speed (RPM) is measured with an optical encoder directly connected to the motor shaft. The applied Torque is converted to shear stress, and the RPM is converted to shear rate by the instrument electronics. It will be operated on controlled shear stress or controlled shear rate mode where a feed back loop is used.

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Centre for Carbon Materials

C. Model & Make

DV-III Ultra

Specifications

Details

The three properties rheology, suspension stability, and compatibility of the catalyst ink and carbon slurry can be studied by the rheometer. The thickness and consistency of the catalyst layer on the membrane/electrode depends upon the solution properties. Rheometer DV-III ultra combines the sophisticated viscosity and the yield stress measurement with PC control software for continuous sensing and display. This is an easy tool to predict the materials flow, spray or pumping behavior by studying the shear rate profiles.

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Centre for Fuel Cell Technology

D. Model & Make

GEM-200-903 & Malvern Instruments Limited, UK

Specification

Details

Used for measuring rheological properties of slurry, visco-elastic material. It is a Frictionless low inertia air bearing type with integrated high-resolution absolute position sensor. The Rheometer consists of a microprocessor controlled automatic zeroing and gap setting with thermal compensation. Its accuracy in viscosity values < 1 %

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Centre for Non-oxide Ceramics

Model & Make

Spectrum GX Optica, Perkin Elmer, USA

Specification

Wave number region: 7000-370 cm-1

Details

Infrared spectroscopy measures the infrared radiation frequencies which are absorbed by a material at the frequencies of vibration of the interatomic (chemical) bonds within that material Therefore infrared spectroscopy indicates to us the interatomic (chemical) bonds which are present in a material. The frequencies of bond vibrations fall within the frequency range of the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum. A single bond may vibrate in more than one mode and only those modes which involve a change in dipole moment will absorb infrared. When a molecule is irradiated with all the infrared frequencies, it will absorb those frequencies which match bond vibrations with a change in dipole moment, and will not absorb those frequencies which do not match bond vibrations with a change in dipole moment If we measure which frequencies are absorbed and which are not absorbed, we can obtain an infrared absorption spectrum

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model & Make

Nano SZ, Malvern Instruments Limited, UK

Specifications

Details

The instrument measures the diffusion coefficient (D) and converts this to particle size, using the Stokes-Einstein equation: D=kT/3S, D=Hydrodynamic diameter, T=Absolute temperature, D=Diffusion Coefficient, K=Boltzman's constant, =Viscosity/c

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model & Make

PoreMaster 60 GT, Quantachrome Instruments, USA

Specifications

Details

Measures the porosity, distribution of porosity, pore size and pore size distribution. The principle of measurement is based on the Washburn equation, wherein when mercury is used as the intrusion medium the pore size is calculated as 106.7/P where P is the pressure applied

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model& Make

TXT.PLUS, Stable micro systems, UK

Specifications

Operates at RT with 15-20 gm of powder with a load cell capacity of 5N

Details

Powder flow analyzer can be used for the determination of compaction coefficient, cohesion coefficient, cohesion index, flowability. The helically machined rotor of the instrument can be programmed to move through the powder in different ways to measure many different characteristics. The sample of powder can be conditioned, then compacted to a specified stress and then the rotor can be programmed to slice down through the powder (with minimum disturbance to the powder column, by moving down at the same helical path as the blade profile) and then to move up through the sample measuring the cohesion between the powder after the consolidation. Flow property of powders before and after granulation such as cohesion index, PF speed dependency, caking strength, flow stability can be measured.

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Centre for Ceramic Processing

Model& Make

DIL 402 C, Netzsch, Germany

Specifications

Details

Used for measuring thermal expansion

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Centre for Ceramic Processing