What the facility does
Supports research, development, testing and evaluation of high-temperature materials, including thermal and oxidization-resistant coatings
Areas of expertise
The High Temperature Materials Research Facility (HTMRF) is unique in Canada and one of very few facilities of its kind in the world. It houses a complete range of high temperature materials processing and development equipment, as well as state-of-the art materials characterization systems such as High Velocity Burner Rigs, High Temperature Spin Rig, as well as unique systems such as the ultrasonic high-cycle fatigue (UHCF) and multiaxial fretting fatigue systems.
Through collaborative R&D and contract service work, the facility can de-risk new high temperature materials and coatings development for aerospace, automotive, and power generation applications. Similarly, the same facilities have been instrumental for characterizing and extending the life of legacy high temperature materials systems for military and industrial applications alike.
The research and technical staff are resourceful in adapting facility equipment to meet current and emerging needs for our partners and clients.
Research services
- Qualification testing of new high temperature materials
- Development of constitutive and life prediction models and tools
- Joining and repair of high temperature metallic materials
- Development, fabrication, and spallation testing of thermal barrier coatings
- Development of metal-matrix and ceramic-matrix composite materials
- Thermal fatigue durability assessment of additively manufactured parts
- Ultra-high cycle fatigue test development and standardization
- Fretting fatigue test development and damage modelling
- Failure analysis of materials and components
- Damage tolerance assessment for life extension and life validation of RCAF gas turbine engine components, including the development of prognostic health management tools
- Technology qualification
Sectors of application
- Aerospace and satellites
- Automotive
- Defence and security industries
- Energy
- Manufacturing and processing
- Mining, minerals and metals
- Transportation
Specialized labs and equipment
| Specialized lab | Equipment | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Materials and Components Processing Laboratory (MCPL) | Autoclave Engineers Hot Isostatic Press, Serial: SL81-11592-1 | Hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) of powder based metallic materials up to 2000°C and 200 MPa, with 26 cm long x 12 cm diameter working zone for processing, rejuvenation and repair of various materials and components. |
| Materials and Components Processing Laboratory (MCPL) | Oxy-Gon Industries High Temperature Vacuum Furnace | Vacuum heat treatment of materials up to 2000°C, 1.33 x 10-3 Pa, with a working zone size of 0.3 m x 0.3 m x 0.3 m. Usable work zone for sintering, brazing and heat treatment of materials and components with gas quenching capability. |
| Materials and Components Processing Laboratory (MCPL) | Setaram Thermogravimetric Analyzer, Serial: S60/56214 5287-1 | System used to determine the oxidation kinetics at specific environmental conditions at a maximum temperature up to 1600°C under various environments including air, mixed gas, and vacuum conditions. |
| Materials and Components Processing Laboratory (MCPL) | Thermo Scientific Lindberg/Blue Heat Treatment Furnaces | Several radiation furnaces used to change material microstructural properties to achieve a desirable combination of physical and mechanical properties. |
| Microstructural Analysis and Microscopy Laboratory (MAML) | PHILIPS/FEI XL 30S SEM FEG (Scanning Electron Microscope) | Used for advanced materials characterization providing both elemental composition and crystal structure results. Various characterization techniques such as elemental spot, line, and mapping analyses, phase identification analysis, micro-texture analysis, grain boundary structure analysis, and light element detection can be achieved. SEM is interfaced with Pegasus - TEAM Integrated EDS (Apollo X) and EBSD System with light element detection capability. |
| Microstructural Analysis and Microscopy Laboratory (MAML) | OLYMPUS GX71 Inverted Metallurgical Microscope | Used to handle a diverse range of material sample types with a variety of image forming techniques, including brightfield, darkfield, DIC, simple polarization, and fluorescence. Equipped with quantitative image analysis software. |
| High Temperature Fatigue and Fracture Laboratory (HTFFL) | MTS Systems Corporation High Temperature Servo-Hydraulic Mechanical Load Frames (100 kN – 250 kN) | Used to simulate high temperature service conditions; static or cyclic forces and temperatures. Temperature range: up to 1400°C (resistance) and 2000°C (induction), with a force capacity up to 250 kN. Testing can be performed in air, inert or high-vacuum conditions. 17 dedicated systems for thermomechanical fatigue, creep, fatigue, and fatigue crack growth rate with potential difference and compliance crack monitoring methods. |
| High Temperature Fatigue and Fracture Laboratory (HTFFL) | Multi-axial fretting fatigue test rig (Custom) | Evaluates the fatigue life of compressor or turbine blade/disc attachment features under realistic loading conditions, including axial and fretting fatigue. Utilizes multiple servo hydraulic actuators and crack detection instrumentation. |
| High Temperature Fatigue and Fracture Laboratory (HTFFL) |
Ultrasonic high-cycle fatigue test rig (Custom)
|
Complete programming and closed-loop control of temperature, mean load and alternating stress from a single control system with a superposition capability of low and high-cycle fatigue loading. Utilizes induction heating, servo-hydraulic axial mean loading, and superimposed ultrasonic high frequency loading. |
| High Temperature Materials and Coatings Durability Laboratory (HTMCDL) | Becon High-Velocity Burner Rig systems |
Simulates the high velocity, hot gas environment typical in a gas turbine engine at temperatures up to 1600°C (2912°F), gas velocity up to Mach 0.8 Using jet fuel or marine diesel fuel. Three general test modes: 1. Cyclic oxidation - high velocity cooling is available for both external and internal cooling, 2. Hot corrosion - contaminants can be added to both the fuel or combustion air, and 3. Erosion - solid particulate matter can be added to combustion gases. |
| High Temperature Materials and Coatings Durability Laboratory (HTMCDL) | Thermal Gradient Shock Test Rig (Custom) | Combustion based thermal test device used to inexpensively compare and evaluate the thermal conductivity and thermal fatigue/shock resistance of multiple materials or material coating systems. Test temperature and specimen geometry can be customized. |
| High Temperature Materials and Coatings Durability Laboratory (HTMCDL) | Test Devices Spin Rig Test System, Model 248710 | For testing rotating components and assemblies by simulating operational conditions of thermal and mechanical loading. Tests are performed under cyclic, steady-state or combined centrifugal loads, at ambient as well as elevated temperatures. Spin rig is equipped with a programmable logic control system to ensure safe and continuous operation. The spin rig’s basic parameters are: a chamber diameter 1.2 m (48 in); rotational speeds from 0 to 40000, 60000, or 100000 rpm; and a maximum test temperature of 800 °C (1,470 °F). |
| High Temperature Materials and Coatings Durability Laboratory (HTMCDL) | CM Furnaces Rapid Temp Lab Furnace Model 1610 (Cyclic Oxidation Test Furnaces) | Test systems used to determine the environmental resistance of aerospace materials or protective coatings by performing cyclic oxidation tests via controlled rapid heat-up and cool-down processes with intermittent inspections. These are bottom-loading systems with a maximum temperature of 1600 °C in air and a chamber size of 7.5” (W) x 7.5” (L) x 5” (H). |
Private and public sector research partners
- Department of National Defense
- Bell Helicopter Textron Canada
- Pratt & Whitney Canada
- Siemens Canada
- Bombardier
- Magellan Aerospace
- Transport Canada
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Transportation Safety Board of Canada
- Natural Resources Canada
- ATI Allvac Ltd.
- Carpenter Technology Corporation
Additional information
| Title | URL |
|---|---|
| Now We’re Cookin’! | https://www.mts.com/cs/groups/public/documents/library/dev_005099.pdf |
| Going to Extremes | https://www.aero-mag.com/going-to-extremes/ |