The Laboratory “Scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis” is founded in 1967 and it is the first laboratory for microanalysis in the Balkan Peninsula. It is in the structure of the “Laboratory for materials analysis & testing and calibration of measuring facilities”, which is accredited by Certificate № 7ЛИК/31.01.2006 BDS EN ISO / IEC 17025:2001 valid by 31.01.2010 and can issue official protocols for the examinations made.
Currently the Laboratory possesses the following equipment:
- Scanning electron microscope – X-ray microanalyzer “JCXA 733” of the company JEOL.
- Metallographic and stereo microscopes.
-Software support for quantitative metallographic and X-ray microanalyses. - Apparatuses for sample preparation for microanalysis.
The Laboratory performs the following main activities in the field of metal science and material science:
- Investigation of the material structure. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the macro- and microstructure.
- Determination of the local element composition in point, along line and in area in solid samples, thin layers, diffusion coatings; determination of macro- and micro-chemical inhomogeneity.
- Investigation of macro- and micro-morphology of working and fractured surfaces. Fractographic analysis.
- Diagnostics of the industrial installations condition by on site control of the microstructure.
- Metal-physical analysis of the connection of the composition and structure with the material properties.
- Expertise of exploitation damages and failures.
The personnel of the Laboratory is highly qualified in the field of material science and microscopic methods of investigation. It possesses rich experience which applies in the examination of various materials: metals, ferrous and non ferrous alloys, amorphous and microcrystalline materials, composites, metal and ceramic powders, glass, ceramics, plastics.
The Laboratory actively participates in the fulfillment of the Institute’s plan, national and international projects. Partners for joint projects have been Institute “Kurchatov” and Institute “Prometei” – Russia, IAEA – Vienna, EU JRC “Petten” – Holland, Еcole Centrale de Paris, University of Skopje – Macedonia, TU Sofia, TU Varna, University of Chemical Technologies, University of Sofia, University of Plovdiv, University of Gabrovo. The Laboratory renders services to companies, institutions and private persons.
The Laboratory major research achievements are in the field of:
- Effect of the alloying elements and heat treatment on the morphology and composition of the intermetallic phases in aluminum alloys.
- Closing of the casting pores in aluminum alloys as a result of applying isostatic pressure at high temperature.
- Effect of the volume nitrogen alloying of chromium-manganese austenitic steels on the composition of the precipitated as a result of heat treatment phases.
- Variation of tool steels morphology and phase composition after nitrogen alloying.
- Electron structure of nitrogen austenitic Cr- Mn alloys.
- Determination and analysis of the difference in the behavior of Cr-Ni and Cr-Mn-N steels under fatigue fracture at accidental loading of austenitic ones.
- Examination of the phosphorous content, microstructure and fracture morphology of the metal of welded seam 4 of unit 1 in NPP Kozloduy.
- Determination of the radiation life-time of the reactor pressure vessels of units 5 and 6 of NPP Kozloduy by testing surveillance specimens.
- Investigation of the morphology and determination of the ductile constituent of the surfaces of fractured at different temperatures samples from metal of high nickel welded seam type WWER1000.
- Investigation of the neutron irradiation effect on the energies of initiation, stable propagation and arrest of cracks in the metal of welded seam 3 of the reactor pressure vessels of units 5 and 6 of NPP Kozloduy in three-point impact bending.
- Determination of the Ni effect on the behavior of the metal of welded seam 3 of the reactor pressure vessels of units 5 and 6 of NPP Kozloduy.
- Development and fulfillment of modernized supervision program for the condition of the metal of the reactor pressure vessels of units 3, 4, 5 and 6 of NPP Kozloduy.
- Expertise for the condition of the metal of engineering installations in industry and household, historical unique objects.
- Expertise for the reasons and fracture mechanisms of installations in industry, energetics and transportation.
The results of the researches carried out in the Laboratory are reported in more than 140 publications and papers.
