Materials Research Innovation: MCL and Bruker

In the heart of Austria, Materials Center Leoben (MCL) is celebrating 25 years of innovation in materials research. This renowned research center has not only made significant contributions to the field of materials research but also achieved a milestone that sets them apart: they are the only independent accredited laboratory in the field of XRD in Austria.

At the core of this success story is a partnership with Bruker AXS. Our state-of-the-art XRD equipment has been instrumental in enabling MCL to conduct complex and innovative research since their early days. The D8 DISCOVER and the D8 ADVANCE, in particular, have proven their reliability and versatility time and again.

Fast forward 25 years: MCL’s XRD lab has grown to house five instruments, the majority of which are from Bruker. Their latest addition, the high-end D8 DISCOVER Plus, offers more precision and flexibility, catering to MCL’s broad range of applications.

As MCL celebrates their silver jubilee, they look back on their journey with pride and gratitude. They look forward to continuing their partnership with Bruker, pushing the boundaries of material research for many more years to come.

Dive into the full story to learn more about their journey and future plans and to discover some significant milestones of this partnership!

The development of all solid-state batteries is essential for the move to a net zero world. Solid state electrolytes hold the promise of providing energy storage with high specific energy and high power-density without the safety issues related to conventional liquid lithium-ion batteries. A detailed understanding of a new material’s structure in atomic detail is essential for understanding and improving their physical and electrochemical properties.

Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction (SC-XRD) is the method of choice to investigate these materials in the required detail. It provides highly accurate atomic coordinates of both the crystal lattice, and the ions themselves. Site occupancies and displacement parameters provide essential insight into the mechanism of ion migration through the electrolyte.

Bruker AXS provides scientists with high-performance single-crystal diffractometers to drive the development of new solid-state ionic materials. The D8 QUEST ECO is cost-effective addition to the laboratory delivering high-quality structures quickly and easily with a focus on economy of ownership. The D8 VENTURE HE is our flagship instrument for solid-state crystallography. Featuring dual IµS DIAMOND II (Mo and Ag) X-ray sources coupled with the PHOTON III HE detector with quantum efficiency optimized for high-energy radiation. The highest performance and great versatility ensure you get the best results even from the most challenging measurements.

Learn more about how SC-XRD is driving the development of next-generation battery materials.

The analysis of elemental composition in iron and steel is essential for quality control and process optimization in production. Bruker’s new Q6 NEWTON is a pioneering instrument that offers exceptional accuracy and precision in determining the concentrations of a wide range of elements, including carbon, sulfur, phosphorus, silicon, manganese, nitrogen, and much more. With excellent sensitivity and resolution, the Q6 NEWTON represents a significant advancement over conventional systems.

The Q6 NEWTON is the superior OES solution for metallurgists and technicians to analyze the composition of iron and steel alloys. HighSense^TM detection technology, SmartSpark^TM source, and RockSteady^TM, the active thermal stability control, are the key elements to achieve ultimate precision, speed, and reliability in metals analysis.

We started our partnership with Molave Trading Inc., Philippines in 2019, but their history of serving the Philippines scientific community goes way back to 1973. Molave has been the conduit for many scientific suppliers aspiring to market their equipment and solution in the Philippines. Our joint efforts have delivered cutting edge XRM and crystallography research equipment to universities and national research centers. The service team at Molave has provided prompt, competent and competitive support for our XRF installed base in the industry segment. Bruker has benefitted from the good standing Molave enjoys at many regulatory bodies and industrial clients all over the country.

People are central to Molave's many successes. Ms. Maria Teresa Navaro and her team of talented and knowledgeable application specialists and service engineers have brought sales success and has enhanced the reputation of our X-ray products. Their dedication and focus are very well respected and admired. Mr. Emmanuel Acero, President of Molave Trading Inc, has been very supportive of proposals and recommendations from Bruker. His vast experience and good standing in the community have been critical to the success.

We are extremely proud of the contribution of our S2 PUMA EDXRF spectrometer in the laboratories of the Philippines’ Department of Public Works and Highways. Analysis of construction materials helps to ensure that materials supplied meet the requirement of planners and engineers. S2 PUMA is also used to develop more efficient and safer solutions. Molave has gained the trust of this important organization and established itself as a preferred supplier.

A big thank you to everyone who attended our Getting Started in Crystallography online seminar last month. The seminar was very well attended, and participants asked some great (and occasionally thought-provoking) questions.

As single crystal X-ray diffraction workflows become ever more established, the once specialist technique is now accessible to scientists of all backgrounds. The online seminar provided an introduction to SC-XRD and considerations for choosing the right instrument for your lab. This was followed by a short demonstration of data collection and structure determination using APEX5 software and, finally, guidance on how to set up SC-XRD in your laboratory.

If you missed the webinar, you can still get access to the recording and Q&A summary.

Ever wondered about the petrochemical industry’s secret to maintaining high-quality control? It’s X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. This norm-compliant tool provides immediate, reliable data for process and quality control, crucial for analyzing various elements in different refinery stages and final fuel products. It’s also key in the downstream supply chain, ensuring product integrity. Different XRF technologies cater to specific analytical requirements. One such technology is the S2 POLAR, a polarized Energy-Dispersive XRF (EDXRF) system designed for this industry. Missed our online seminar about XRF in the Petrochemical Industry on May 15th? Don’t worry, you can still get access to the recording, presentation, and Q&A summary.

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