Find an Instrument

Choose an instrument based on what you want to learn about your sample. If you’re unsure, ask staff for help choosing a method.

Look At Surfaces And Small Features

Optical microscope — Look at surface detail in color, measure features, and explore surface shape. A useful first look at many samples. (Olympus DSX-1000)
Scanning electron microscopes (SEM) — See fine surface features that optical microscopy cannot resolve, such as small particles, fibers, pores, and fracture textures. (Thermo Fisher Phenom XL and Phenom Pure)

FTIR spectrometer — Compare plastics, fibers, adhesives, and residues using infrared spectra to help identify the material. (Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS5)
Raman microscope — Investigate material identity at selected small spots, or map differences across a sample. Useful for many polymers, minerals, and other compounds. (Horiba XploRA)
X-ray diffraction (XRD) — Identify which crystalline materials are present in a powder or solid sample. (Malvern Panalytical Aeris Research)
SEM elemental analysis (EDS) — Investigate which elements are present in a particle, coating, or selected region, and map where they occur. (Phenom XL only)

Absorbance and fluorescence spectrometer — Measure which wavelengths a liquid absorbs or transmits. Fluorescence measurements are available with staff guidance. (Horiba Duetta)

Hardness tester — Measure resistance to indentation and compare hardness between materials or locations on a sample. (Innovatest Nemesis 5100G2)
Instron mechanical tester — Pull, compress, or bend samples to measure strength, stiffness, and how they fail. (Instron 68TM-50)

Particle size analyzer — Measure the distribution of particle sizes in a dry powder. The analyzed powder is not recovered afterward. (Microtrac Sync)

Ion mill — Prepare surfaces and cross sections for electron microscopy through fine polishing, cleaning, and cutting. (Technoorg-Linda SEMPrep 2)