WPL 1.08 Preparation Lab

Overview

The Sample Preparation Room is one of the smaller laboratories in STEMLab, with a capacity of 18 students. It contains sample preparation equipment such as cutting machines, mounting and polishing equipment.

This lab would usually be used in conjunction with other laboratories. For example, the Materials Testing Laboratory and the Characterisation Suite would be used together.

These labs are primarily used for the teaching of courses in Materials and Natural Sciences (depending on pathway taken).

In these labs you can learn how to prepare metallographic samples in order to properly image and characterise them.

In order to properly image and characterise metallographic samples, they must be prepared to a mirror finish before further treatments such as acid-etching or electron imaging.

Students will often prepare samples are prepared here before taking them to the microscopy suite (WPL1.10), or the Loughborough Materials Characterisation Centre (LMCC).

Equipment in these laboratories includes:

  • Sectioning Tools  

  • Mounting Presses 
  • SiC-grinders 
  • Diamond-Polishers 
  • Optical Microscopes 
  • Acid Etching Capabilities