The Materials Characterization Lab is a University Core Facility. To ensure the smooth operation of the facility and compliance with University regulations, we have established the following set of user rules. Failure to abide by these rules while in the lab may lead to suspension of lab access.
User Rules
You may cancel reservations online up to one hour before the event begins. If you must cancel less than 1 hour before the scheduled start time, cancel your reservation by coming in or calling the lab directly. If if you do not cancel the reservation before it starts, you will be charged for the full machine time. Users with repeat short-notice cancellations may be charged for unused machine time.
If a user needs more time than anticipated, they are responsible to respect the next reservation on the instrument. If a user habitually reserves instrument time that goes unused, they may be billed for the unused time.
Billing Policies
Equipment that requires an operator (such as the SEM, spectrophotometers, pycnometer, etc.) may be reserved for after-hours use by on-campus clients who have been trained on both the instrument and in proper safety protocols in the MCL. This use is only allowed from 5 pm to 9 am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. No weekend access is allowed. The user must be present in the lab during the reserved time, and must have their samples finished before 9:00 the next morning (unless they have scheduled the machine into the next day). This access cannot be scheduled by the client, but must be coordinated and scheduled through a lab staff member.
Equipment that is capable of long scans (XRD, dilatometer, N2 adsorption) or can run autonomously (DSC, TGA) may be reserved for after-hours use by all clients. These scans must be started by 4:30pm on a business day, and may run into the evening or weekend. While these are running, the schedule must be reserved to reflect that fact. If the scan ends during after-hours time, the client must come in at 9:00 the next business day to remove the samples from the machine. If the scan ends during a business day, the client is responsible to be present when the scan finishes to remove the samples and clean up. Some scheduling and cleanup leniency may be provided for clients using machines that do not have a defined ending time (such as N2 adsorption).