Skip to main content
Dr. Cheryl Xu Research Group

facilities

Facilities

From powder and precursor to measured performance.

F / 04

AI-M3 combines thermal processing, fabrication, electromagnetic characterization, real-time control, and extreme-environment measurement—supported by complementary NC State facilities.

Luke Joyce and Cheryl Xu examining a multifunctional ceramic sample in the laboratory

AI-M3 Laboratory

EB3 1006 · Centennial Campus

The laboratory supports materials preparation, high-temperature processing, characterization, sensor interrogation, and experimental validation. Project-specific work also draws on shared NC State infrastructure.

Core capabilities

Integrated experimental capability

The group links material transformation with in situ and ex situ measurement to determine why a process works—not only whether it works.

01

Ceramic materials and composite synthesis, sintering, and manufacturing

02

Additive manufacturing of ceramic and polymer components

03

Real-time wireless sensing under high-temperature conditions

04

Dielectric-property measurement from room temperature to 1,700°C across 5–50 GHz

05

Electrical-conductivity measurement from room temperature to 1,300°C across DC–1 MHz

06

Digital image correlation, real-time acquisition, and process monitoring

Selected equipment

Tools for fabrication and proof

Equipment specifications below reflect the laboratory’s current public facilities listing. Availability depends on project needs, training, scheduling, and applicable access requirements.

Thermal processing

  • Carbolite high-temperature furnace — up to 1,800°C
  • Mellen split furnace — up to 1,325°C
  • MTI tube furnace — up to 1,100°C
  • NRTL 53 L vacuum oven — up to 200°C
  • Carver twelve-ton heated benchtop press — up to 343°C

Electromagnetic and electrical characterization

  • CTG 5–50 GHz focused-beam high-temperature measurement system
  • Keysight 5225A PNA microwave network analyzer — 10 MHz–50 GHz
  • VersaSTAT3-200 potentiostat/galvanostat — 10 μHz–1 MHz
  • Keithley 6514 electrometer — 10 mΩ–210 GΩ measurement range

Fabrication and materials preparation

  • Dual-nozzle 3D bioprinter and Prusa MK3S+ FDM printers
  • Carbide 3D CNC milling system
  • SYJ-400 precision CNC dicing and cutting saw
  • 8000D dual high-energy Mixer/Mill
  • ECONOLINE siphon-feed abrasive blast tester

Measurement and control

  • NI PXIe-8133 embedded real-time controller and functional modules
  • VIC-3D digital image-correlation system with dual high-speed cameras
  • Instrumentation for wireless interrogation and extreme-environment testing
  • Access to complementary NC State facilities, including CAMAL
NC State MAE facilities Center for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics