Facilities

Supported by a team which includes some of Australia’s most experienced scientific staff, CMR offers access to world-class skills and equipment in microstructural and nanostructural materials characterisation and evaluation, professional management of intellectual property, and strict maintenance of commercial confidentiality.

Online Booking System for EM and XRD Equipment

The online booking system is only for licensed users of the Curtin EM and XRD equipment. A password is necessary for access.

X-ray analysis

Capabilities include:

• X-ray diffraction (XRD)
• grazing incidence diffraction
• small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).
• Rietveld full pattern modelling with X-ray and neutron diffraction data enabling quantitative phase analysis, crystallite size, non-uniform strain and many more crystallographic features to be extracted.

CMR has access to the world’s foremost synchrotron and neutron research facilities; the Centre offers joint research and support for the advanced analysis needs of industry.

Microscopy

Capabilities include:

• focussed ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIBSEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM)
• transmission electron microscope (TEM)
• research-quality light microscopes
• confocal microscopes, field emission SEM and TEM, and environmental SEM are available through CMR’s membership of the Nanoscale Characterisation Centre.

Physical Testing

A range of other materials characterisation techniques is available: polishing and sample preparation equipment; facilities for testing hardness, toughness, thermal expansion, wear and mechanical properties to provide practical solutions for industrial problems.

Access to External Faclities

CMR also has access to the following facilities.

Neutron Scattering

A large variety of neutron scattering instruments is accessible to address specific research areas and questions. A new neutron scattering facility is currently under construction at OPAL, Australia’s Research Reactor. Other facilities include ISIS in the UK, ILL in France and SINQ in Switzerland.

Synchrotron Radiation

A large variety of X-ray scattering techniques exist to address specific research areas and questions. A new synchrotron is currently under construction in Australia. Other facilities include the SLS in Switzerland, the ESRF in France and Elettra in Italy