Our Capabilities- CAMP
Mineral, metal, composite, polymer and wood: When it comes to characterizing your material, CAMP’s got you covered from Acid solubility to Zetasizer particle analysis. Browse the categories below to see our most common offerings.
If you don’t see what you need, contact us. We pride ourselves in method development and lab to bench scale research tailored to your needs. Our unique ability to partner with multiple departments across campus allows us to offer capabilities that may not be listed.
Analytical Lab Capabilities
Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS): Elemental analysis of bulk powders and solids by Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) on the scanning electron microscope (SEM)
ICP-OES: Elemental analysis of aqueous solutions and digestates from solid materials by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), based on the interaction of the material with a plasma. Available for more than 30 elements.
Arc Spark Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) Metal Analysis: Elemental analysis of iron, aluminum or titanium alloys. Wavelength range is 140-670 nm.
X-Ray Diffraction (XRD): Identification of mineral (crystalline) phases of bulk powders and solids at ambient and elevated temperatures (up to 1500 °C) in air, gas, or vacuum.
Automated Minerology: Automated mineralogical analysis of solids and bulk powders. Modal mineralogy, mineral liberation, mineral associations and grain size analysis are available.
Scanning Electron Microscopy: Photographs of your material on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) using backscatter electron (BSE) imaging or cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging, up to 150,000X magnification.
CAMP SEM photograph of philsbornite, a rare arsenate mineral from the Centenario mine, Sierra Mojada mining district, Estado Coahuila, Mexico, collected by Stanley Korzeb. Permission to use courtesy of Montana Bureau of Mines & Geology.
CAMP CL photograph of detrital zircon from a Tertiary sandstone collected in southwest Montana by Jesse Mosolf. CL Imaging by Kristina Okonski. Permission to use courtesy of Montana Bureau of Mines & Geology.
Hirox Digital Microscopy: Photographs of your material on the HiRox digital microscope, up to 3500X magnification, in color.
CAMP HiRox digital image of pyrite.
Reflected Light and Stereo Microscopy: Photomicrographs of your metal on a reflected light or stereo optical microscope, up to 100X magnification.
CAMP reflected light photomicrograph showing the grain structure of a steel pipe.
Contact us to inquire about our capabilities.
CAMP chemist Tina Stefanescu, conducting acid solubility testing of fracking sand (proppant) expressed as percent of undesirable (non-silica) contaminants.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry: Difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a sample and reference as a function of temperature. Temperature range: 350 °C to 1400 °C.
Dilatometric Analysis, or Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE): Dimensional changes versus temperature or time for solids, powders and pastes. Temperature range: -180 °C to 2000 °C.
Thermogravimetric Analysis: Amount and rate of change in the weight of a material as a function of temperature or time in a controlled (inert or air) atmosphere. Temperature range: Ambient to 1000 °C.
Mineral separation of precious metals using the Mozley Laboratory “Super Panner” table, or heavy liquid separation (HLS). Data can be used for characterization of density, predicting the performance of ores in gravity circuits, or preconcentrating low grade, high density minerals. This technique is especially useful when studying gold-silver mineralogy.
Materials Lab Capabilities
Our focus is materials characterization of composites, polymers, plastics, metals and wood, and our universal test frames are capable of testing loads up to 55,000 pounds. If you don’t see what you are looking for, contact us as we are available for method development and non-standard testing.
Quasistatic Testing - ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accredited Methods
Compression Testing
Combined end-loading compressive properties of polymer matrix composite materials for loads up to 55,000 pounds, in accordance with ASTM D6641. Modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s ratio in compression also available.
Flex Testing
Flexural properties of polymer matrix composite materials for loads up to 55,000 pounds, in accordance with ASTM 7264.
Shear Testing
Short Beam Shear
Short beam strength of polymer matrix composite materials and their laminates loaded in three-point bending, in accordance with ASTM D2344. For loads up to 55,000 pounds.
V-Notched Shear
Shear properties of composite materials prepared as a rectangular coupon with a notch along the line of action of loading, in accordance with ASTM D5379. For loads up to 55,000 pounds.
Tensile Testing
Tension of Composites
In-plane tensile properties of polymer matrix composite materials for loads up to 55,000 pounds, in accordance with ASTM D3039.
Tension of Plastics
Tensile properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics, in accordance with ASTM D638.
Dynamic Testing
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis
Dynamic mechanical properties of polymers and polymer matrix composites as a function of time, temperature and frequency. Used to identify glass transition temperature for viscoelastic materials. Temperature Range: -150 °C to 600°C.
Fatigue Analysis
Low and high cycle fatigue of materials when subjected to an alternating stress.
Impact Testing
Charpy
Impact resistance, maximum available energy 542 J (400 ft•lbf)
Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar
High strain rate compression of materials. Heated chamber up to 500 °C. Strain rates up to 104.
Materials Characterization
Density / Specific Gravity
Density: Mass per unit volume; Specific Gravity: Ratio of density of a material to that of water at a specified temperature.
CAMP employees measuring the specific gravity of a wax fuel
Fiber and Resin Content, Fiber and Void Volume
Determination of the amount of fiber or non-matrix-material (fiber and filler) present in a composite, expressed as percent by weight or percent by volume. If no fillers exist, this is also called reinforcement content. Determination of resin content, or amount of matrix present specifically in a polymer matrix composite, expressed as percent by weight or percent by volume. For non-polymer matrix composites, this is called matrix content. With the addition of density data, volume percent of fiber, volume percent of resin, and void volume may also be calculated.
Fiber content testing by digestion
Fiber content testing by ignition
Hardness Testing
Shore D:
Resistance of a material indentation, reported on the Shore D hardness scale, for composites, plastics, or rubber.
Contact us for your lab to bench scale needs if you don’t see what you are looking for.
Comminution
Reduction of ore particle size.
Flotation
Separation and concentration of minerals by altering their surfaces to repel water (hydrophobic) or be attracted by water (hydrophilic). We offer expertise in gold, rare earth and copper-molybdenum separation.
Classification
Gravity Separation
Separation and concentration of minerals based on their differences in specific gravity.
Magnetic and Electrostatic Separation
Separation and concentration of minerals based on their differences in magnetic strength using a magnetic belt or drum separator, or surface charge using an electrostatic separator.
Particle Size Analysis
Determination of the size and distribution of particles in a material, by sieving, light scattering or microscopy.
Metallographic analysis includes characterization and failure analysis of metals, as well as corrosion and scale buildup. Contact us to examine your failed boiler tube or corroded copper pipe, or if you are a law firm, let us serve as the unbiased, third party in your investigation of failed metals.
Sample Preparation
Cutting, mounting, polishing, and etching of metals.
Proper sample preparation assures uniformity and the avoidance of induced properties such as avoid debris, scratches, or oxidation. CAMP has a diverse array of cutting and grinding equipment to accommodate very small to very large samples of almost any type of metal. CAMP’s hot mounting equipment ensures your specimen is cured at the proper temperature, time and pressure. CAMP’s grinding and polishing equipment ensures a flat, smooth surface will be evaluated. CAMP’s well-trained team, coupled with the proper equipment, assures the analysis of your sample is focused on your sample’s intrinsic properties, not on false, induced properties.
Mounted cross sections of a ¾” nominal copper pipe
Microscopic Imaging
Imaging of metals by reflected light or stereo microscopy, up to 100X magnification, by scanning electron microscopy, up to 2500X magnification, and by HiRox digital imaging microscopy, up to 3500X magnification and in color.
Montana Tech’s Dr. K.V. Sudhkar, Professor of Metallurgical and Materials engineering, supports CAMP in an advisory role
Vickers Microhardness Testing
The resistance of metal to indentation, reported on the Vicker’s Scale.
View through the Vicker’s Microhardness Tester
Elemental Analysis
Elemental analysis of metals can be conducted in our analytical lab by energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) on the scanning electron microscope (SEM), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), or ark spark optical emission spectroscopy (OES) on the metal analyzer.