Ion Beam Assisted Deposition   Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State  

In addition to the EB-PVD units, PSU also has capability of ion beam sputter deposition, ion cleaning, and microstructural enhancement with either 8cm gridded (Kaufman) or gridless (end hall) ion sources, depending on the required ionized energy levels and current densities. Both ion sources can be used to pre-clean the samples prior to deposition to improve coating adhesion. In addition, when used during deposition, microstructure, crystallographic orientation, stress, and properties can be tailored. Depending on the coating application either ion source can be used. The gridded source allows much higher energies up to 1200 eV for the ions whereas the highest energy of the end hall system is 140 eV. The end hall ion beam source offers much higher current densities to aid in microstructural modifications. 

High Temperature Cyclic Oxidation and Humidity Testing

  • Advanced Coating Department at PSU has 4 high temperature furnaces capable of thermal cyclic testing up to 1300°C in atmosphere and two controlled environments such as humidity.
  • Additional furnace available for conversion to corrosion testing depending on the test set-up

High temperature Corrosion Testing (Dean’s Rig)

  • Advanced coating department at PSU has high temperature corrosion testing capabilities for testing/evaluation materials under Type I (900°C) and Type II (700°C) hot corrosion environments.
  • The system is a Dean’s rig capable of using various salts, sulfur contents, and elevated temperatures up to 1100°C. 

Erosion Test Facility

  • Erosion testing of various materials can be performed under a variety of test conditions including various erodent media, particle sizes, particle size distributions, particle morphologies, and angle of impingement (for both low angle and high angle erosion testing).

Tribology Test Facility

  • Wear rates and friction coefficients of various materials can be measured  and evaluated from room temperature up to 800°C in air or controlled atmosphere.  Friction coefficients and wear rates can be measured under dry or lubricated conditions.