School of Chemical Engineering

Manufacturing and characterization of advanced materials group

Professor Han Huang is a world leading expert in machining, manufacturing and materials mechanics and has a wealth of experience in materials properties characterization in micro and nano scale.

He is currently leading a diverse and strong research team of 8 PhD students and 4 postdoctoral fellows; the research programmes of the team are largely concerned with manufacturing and characterization of advanced materials.

The group has recently established a new AM Laboratory, which houses a DTM2500 Plus SLS, a desktop Sharebot SLS system and a customised SLM (selective laser melting) system for studying laser melting of metal and ceramic powders. The group also has a world-class laboratory that are dedicated to materials preparation, mechanical testing and surface characterization.

Facilities

  1. Hysitron Nanomechanical Testing Instrument (Triboindenter)
  2. Polytech Laser Doppler Vibrometer (MSA-400)
  3. Bruker Surface Profiling System (DektakXT)
  4. Olympus LEXT OLS 4000 3D Confocal Laser Microscope
  1. DTM Sinterstation 2500 Plus Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) System
  2. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) System
  3. OKAMOTO Ultra Precision Profile Grinder (UPZ315Li)
  4. Other facilities

3. Bruker Surface Profiling System (DektakXT)

Bruker Surface Profiling System (DektakXT)The DektakXT stylus profiler is a research-grade surface metrology characterisation tool. Surface profilometry is recognised as the standard method for surface measurement in semiconductor manufacturing, and is typically used to evaluate surface roughness, waviness, step height, thin film thickness, and the residual stress of fabricated wafers.

The Dektak XT is able to deliver surface profiles with a step-height repeatability of 5 Å. The facility allows for a maximum scan length of 55mm, extending to 200mm with data stitching, and 3D mapping capabilities allow for effective surface visualisation. With a 1mm vertical range, the Dektak XT is also capable of characterising machined components from a variety of industries, including medical, automotive, aerospace.