H H Uhlig Corrosion Laboratory

The H. H. Uhlig Corrosion Lab investigates the causes of failure in materials and the prevention of failure in materials, with an emphasis on nuclear materials.

The Uhlig laboratory is a fully equipped chemistry, corrosion science and mechanical properties laboratory. The laboratory includes: (1) a complete chemistry laboratory, (2) complete facilities for optical metallography, (3) facilities for electrochemical studies, and (4) complete mechanical testing facilities and (5) complete computer facilities. Additionally, the laboratory has a scanning electron microscope laboratory which includes x-ray microanalysis and image analysis capability. Programs involve basic studies concerning the environmental degradation of all materials. The laboratory is equipped for electrochemical measurements in aqueous systems at temperatures from room temperature to 350 °C in aqueous environments.

The laboratory is capable of corrosion testing in gas phase environments, including steam (supercritical), to temperatures up to 1100 C. Mechanical behavior testing can be conducted in all environments. Corrosion fatigue, stress corrosion cracking, hydrogen embrittlement, pitting and other corrosion related tests are easily accomplished.

The laboratory is fully equipped for the study of tensile, fatigue, creep, and environmentally enhanced materials degradation behavior. Test temperature capability is from -269 to 1500 °C in essentially any environment. Tensile, fatigue, fracture toughness (KIC, JIC, COD based). The laboratory is fully equipped for the investigation of chemistry and thermodynamics of gas phase systems to temperatures up to 1800 C. The scanning electron microscope facility consists of a TOPCON ABT-150S dual stage, five lenses, high resolution microscope with normal (secondary electron), back scatter, and STEM capability. A NORAN Voyager x-ray/image microanalysis system is available with a resolution of 30 angstroms. The laboratory has extensive high temperature electrochemistry facilities including capabilities multiple potentiostat and impedance spectroscopy systems.

The Uhlig Corrosion Laboratory is involved in an international effort with the Moscow State Engineering University (MEPhI) in the development of an educational curriculum in the area of corrosion and environmental degradation as well as the development of a corrosion laboratory at MEPhI. This effort is being conducted as a part of the Russian government’s “Excellence” program which seeks to improve the science at universities in the Russian Federation in this area.