Materials Research Centre
The Materials Research Centre was established in 2000 and has since sustained a record of excellence in materials science and engineering research.
The Centre has excellent modern equipment for measurements of structural chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of materials and for preparation and processing of a wide range of materials.
Contact us
Materials Research Centre
Director: Professor D P Almond
Tel: +44 (0) 1225 386708
Email: d.p.almond@bath.ac.uk
SMS Consultancy
Manager: Nicholas Gathercole
Tel. +44 (0)1225 383235
Fax: +44 (0)1225 386098
Email: SMS@bath.ac.uk
Research focus
Our current research is focusing on these areas:
- Structural and functional ceramics (including bio-materials)
- Composite materials (including timber science and engineering)
- Smart materials and structures
- Non-destructive evaluation
- Materials characterisation and evaluation
SMS Consultancy
Based on our expertise and well-funded laboratories we are able to run a comprehensive consultancy service.
Examples of our recent activities with industry include:
- Mechanical testing (static, fatigue and creep)
- Corrosion studies
- Chemical analysis of materials
- Micro-structural analysis of materials
- Optical and electron microscopy
- Accident and failure investigations
- Expert witness service
Further details
Centre for Electron Optical Studies
The University's Centre for Electron Optical Studies provides facilities for investigating the microstructure of solid materials using electron optical techniques. Find more information at the Centre for Electron Optical Studies website.
The UK Research Centre in Non-destructive Evaluation
The thermographic research group lead by Professor Darryl Almond is part of the UK Research Centre in Non-destructive Evaluation, formed by a consortium of six NDE research groups spread across six UK universities.
Non-linear ultrasonics activities are led by Dr Michele Meo.
The Centre was established in 2003 with £9m of EPSRC funding. Since 2003 the Centre has attracted substantial industrial support and it has received a further EPSRC grant for the period 2008-2014.
The Group's laboratory is equipped to investigate all types of thermographic NDE.
Ceramics
- Piezoelectrics, piezoelectric composites
- Bioceramics
- Solid electrolytes / ionic conductors
- Conductive ceramics
- Nanostructured ceramics
Composites
- Fatigue, carbon fibre composites
- Impact damage, effects of fatigue and static loading
- Composite/metal hybrid materials
- Biomedical materials
Non-destructive testing and evaluation
- Ultrasonics
- Non-linear ultrasonics
- Thermography
- Thermal wave
- Acoustic emission
- Eddy current
Timber
- Life cycle design, fatigue performance
- Advanced structural connection techniques
- Reinforced timber structures
- Panel products
Modelling
- Finite element, finite difference
- Dielectric response, complex circuits
- Piezoelectric, 3D composites
Characterisation
- Scanning and transmission electron microscopy
- Optical microscopy, quantitative
- X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction
- NDT&E, ultrasonics, thermography, thermal wave
- CT-scanning
- Doppler laser vibrometry
- Surface profilometry
- Dilatometry
- Impedance spectroscopy
- Polymers, DMTA
- Mechanical testing, fatigue
Mechanical testing and processing
- Denison-Mayes DH 2004C 200kN Servo-hydraulic universal testing machine
- Instron 1195 100kN testing machine
- Instron 5585H 250kN testing machine
- Instron 3369 50kN testing machine
- (Two) Instron 1332 100kN servo-hydraulic fatigue testing
- Instron 3111 environmental cabinet
- Leco M400 microhardness tester
- Vickers and Avery Rockwell hardness testers
- Comprehensive range of tube and chamber furnaces, 1100-1700° C
- Stansted fluid power 207MPa isostatic press
- Doppler Laser Vibrometry
- Digital Image Correlation
Optical microscopy
- Comprehensive collection of laboratory microscopes – high, low resolution, polarising, binocular
- Leica M205C
- Leica DMILM
- Kemet precision lapping and polishing machine
- Suit of metallographic cutting, lapping and polishing machines
Electron microscopy
- JEOL SEM6480LV
- JEOL FESEM6301F
- JEOL 1200EX, 0-120keV TEM + STEM
- NANOSCOPE IIIa (AFM + STM)
Supporting facilities: freeze drying, critical point drying, ultramicrotomy, ion milling, electro-chemical thinning, sputter coating, evaporation of carbon and metal films.
Find out more at the Centre for Electronic Optics website.
Materials characterisation
- Triton 2000 DMA
- Solatron S1 1260 impedance analyser
- Solatron 1296 dielectric interface
- Datacolor SF600+ spectra photometer
- Micromeritics ASAP 2000 gas porosimeter
- Micromeritics 1330 pycnometer
- Netzsc DIL 402C dilatometer
- Setaram TGA92 thermogravimetric analysis
- Non-contact surface profilimeter Proscan 2000
Non-destructive testing and evaluation
- Santec Systems acousticScope
- Thermal Wave imaging thermoscope
- Limess shearography system
- USL ultrasonic C-scanner with 3x1 metre tank
- Matec 6600 (ultrasonic) pulse modulator receiver
- Laservall 25 watt fibered diode laser
- CT Scanner
Academic staff
- Professor D P Almond
- Dr M P Ansell
- Dr R Ball
- Professor C Bowen
- Dr M Meo
- Professor R Stevens
- Dr I G Turner
Staff in other Departments associated with Centre
The Materials Research Centre has vacancies for undergraduates wishing to study for a PhD with either a First Class or 2(1) Honours Degree.
Suitably qualified applicants can find further details at the Graduate School funding web page.
