High Versatility Simultaneous Thermal Analysis System

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The UN's recently released report on climate change highlights the need for technological advancements that will enable drastic decreases in carbon emissions. New materials and manufacturing processes are urgently needed that reduce CO2 emissions while maintaining economic prosperity. Researchers in the Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research are developing new materials and processes in support of these concurrent goals. ***The funding requested is for the purchase of a High Versatility, Simultaneous Thermal Analysis System (HV-STA) that will characterize the effects of temperature and environment on material properties and material degradation. The new instrument is essential to enable a broad array of research programs (1) on-demand alloying for metal additive manufacturing applications, (2) heat absorbing flame retardant materials for the aerospace industry, (3) advanced 3rd generation steels with improved coatability and formability for automotive components, (4) microduplex high entropy alloys for high temperature applications, (5) novel magnetocaloric and thermoelectric materials and (6) ionic conductors for battery and fuel cell applications; (7) sustainable processing of advanced steel alloys by direct reduction of iron ore employing hydrogen as a reducing agent instead of natural gas and offering excellent castability, superior mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance. Specifically, the new instrument will be used to quantify the solidification kinetics, precipitate formation, specific heat capacity and phase evolution in both metallic and non-metallic systems, along with weight change kinetics during oxidation and reduction experiments under N2-H2-H2O, and CO/CO2/H2 environments at temperatures up to 1650°C and down to -150°C. Currently, there is no equipment at McMaster University, or in the vicinity, that is suitable for acquiring the needed calorimetry data under the wide range of temperatures and corrosive environments required by the applicants to carry out their research programs***The proposed thermal analysis system will provide an essential missing link in the materials characterizations facilities at McMaster providing researchers with the ability to combine materials processing and microstructural characterization studies with timely thermal analysis of new materials and processing routes. The system will support research on a wide range of material classes including structural and functional materials, metallic coatings, polymers, glasses and ceramics. This broad-based applicability will result in the equipment being in high demand amongst multiple researchers within the university. Furthermore, students and HQP will acquire knowledge in experimental design and setup, data analysis, and experimental reproducibility through use of this thermal analysis system. They will gain marketable hands-on skills in the using equipment that is found extensively in industry, enhancing their employability upon graduation. *****