The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is affiliated with laboratories throughout the College of Science and Texas A&M University College of Engineering throughout the 5,200-acre campus.
Some labs, such as the Materials Characterization Facility, are designated as user facilities, and available for both internal research and commercial use on fee basis. Utilization of a facility may require a training session prior to use of specific equipment.
Please check with the laboratory manager to arrange for training or access. The labs associated with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering are listed below.
Elemental Analysis Laboratory
The Elemental Analysis Laboratory is a component of the Department of Chemistry's Center for Chemical Characterization and Analysis. The laboratory provides research support for elemental and trace analysis, to internal users, as well as other universities, government agencies, and private industry. Instrumentation includes fast neutron activation analysis capabilities in addition thermal instrumental neutron activation using the University's Nuclear Science Center's 1 MW TRIGA research reactor.
Equal Channel Angular Extrusion Laboratory
The Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE) process was invented in the former Soviet Union by Vladimir Segal in 1977. Dr. Segal himself worked as an associate in the TAMU ECAE lab from 1992 to 1995. Researchers in the TAMU Deformation Processing Laboratory have been conducting research on the ECAE process since 1992. ECAE is an innovative process capable of producing uniform plastic deformation in a variety of materials without causing significant change in geometric shape or cross section.
High Bay Structural and Materials Testing Laboratory
The High-Bay Structural and Materials Testing Laboratory primarily serves the researchers of the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Texas A&M University College of Engineering, and the Texas Transportation Institute. The testing equipment, instrumentation, and shop equipment contained within the High-Bay Structural and Materials Testing Laboratory represent an investment of several million dollars and is one of the largest, most modern, and best-equipped facilities of its kind located in the South and Southwest.
Mass Spectroscopy Application and Collaboration Facility
The Laboratory for Biological Mass Spectrometry provides expertise in mass spectrometry, including analysis of organic compounds, DNA, RNA, and natural products. Research scientists are actively involved in the development of new analysis methods and techniques and the development of next-generation instrumentation for analysis and sample handling.
Materials Characterization Facility
The MCF is a multiuser facility supporting the research efforts of the Texas A&M University and commercial community. The MCF houses both fabrication and characterization instrumentation for the rapid prototyping and characterization of lithographically based micro-chemical systems with critical lateral length dimensions on the order of 1 micron or greater.
The Texas A&M Materials Development and Characterization Center was established in 2008 as a part of Materials Science and Engineering graduate program, now a stand alone department. It is a user facility in the Doherty Building serving materials researchers at Texas A&M University, College Station campus, and other system members, various Universities and industry.
MDC2 houses the fabrication and characterization instrumentations required for fundamental science research as well as applications as new materials and devices. Instruments such as : Spark Plasma Sintering System (DHTY 110), BRUKER D8 X-ray, Vacuum Tube Furnace, Arc Melter System, Differential scanning calorimeter, MTS compression testing system, MR7 laser 3D printer and the Keyence VHX-2000 optical Microscope, The Center interacts multi users such as multiple departments in the Texas A&M University community, the US National Labs, US Army, Navy and Air force, and commercial companies for research and development.
Microscopy and Imaging Center
The MIC provides current and emerging technologies involving microscopy and imaging in life and physical sciences, as well as training and support services, sample preparation, in situ elemental/molecular analysis, and digital image processing.
Microstructural Engineering of Structural and Active Materials
The MESAM laboratory performs research in shape memory alloys (high-temperature, ferromagnetic), bulk nanocrystalline materials, grain boundary engineering, bulk metallic glasses, and severe plastic deformation of difficult-to-work alloys. MESAM also collaborate with the Equal Channel Angular Extrusion Lab. The lab also has extensive national and international collaboration with scientists from Ames and Los Alamos National Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, and universities in Germany and Russia.
Nuclear Science Center
The Nuclear Science Center is a multidisciplinary research and education center supporting basic and applied research in nuclear-related field of science and technology. The reactor is designed for irradiation of samples and is used to produce radioisotopes for industry, medical, and academic users. Working with the Center for Chemical Characterization and Analysis, the NSC uses neutron activation to identify trace metals in materials. Users include the TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Horticulture, and Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. Commercial users include industrial tracer companies, oilfield services companies, private research companies testing wear of metallic parts, radioactive medical isotope users.
Polymer Technology Consortium
The Polymer Technology Consortium serves faculty from the departments of Aerospace Engineering, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution, Materials Science & Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, as well as commercial clients. Three industrial consortia support operations of the PTC, sponsoring research projects both individually and jointly.
Soft Matter Facility (SoMF)
The new Soft Matter Facility (SoMF) is the user facility focused on characterization of multifunctional soft materials. The establishment of SoMF is funded through the Research Development Fund and represents multiple colleges and centers across the university actively involved in soft materials-related research, including the Colleges of Engineering, Science, and Agriculture & Life Sciences at Texas A&M university.
Thin Film Nano and Microelectronics Research Laboratory
The focus of this laboratory is to study thin film-related microelectronic and opto-electronic devices with a goal of correlating material properties to their process conditions and device characteristics. Materials used in this laboratory are Si-based semiconductors, dielectrics, low-k interlayer dielectrics, metal oxides. Processes include deposition, sputtering, etching, lithography, thermal annealing, and doping.