WKU NOVA Center

The Western Kentucky University (WKU) Nondestructive Analysis (NOVA) Center has been established within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The acquisition of the Large Chamber Scanning Electron Microscope (LC-SEM) has positioned WKU as the only university in North America with an instrument of this type. As envisioned, the WKU NOVA Center will be a national focal point for nondestructive measurements.

Contact Information:

Edward J. Kintzel, Jr., Ph.D. Edward.kintzel@wku.edu Director, WKU NOVA Center Assistant Professor Department of Physics and Astronomy Western Kentucky University    Website: http://www.largechamber.com/  Nova Girl Blog: http://novacentergirl.blogspot.com/

Mission: As the only University in the USA or North America with the availability of this technology, the NOVA Center will provide unrivalled Nanometrology, characterization, and analytical services by using the LC-SEM.    Vision:  To be the preferred and pioneer analytical and technical service provider for non- destructive SEM analysis.

CENTER CAPABILITIES & SERVICES:

 The reach of this Center is to provide analytical services, by being the only educational institution within North America to offer non-destructive SEM analysis. The LC-SEM comes equipped with a suite of instrumentation that includes:
 
High-resolution imaging
         Secondary Electron Imaging (SE) for topographic imaging
         Back-Scattered Electrons (BSE) for elemental contrast imaging
 
Surface characterization
         Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) for chemical analysis
         Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy for materials identification,
         corrosion, failure, quality control analysis

Metal microstructure
         Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) for crystallography
         Focused Ion Beam (FIB) for ion milling for subsurface examination
 
Expanded material range
         Variable pressure (VP) for nonconductive surfaces
 
The LC-SEM located at WKU is an answer to overcome size limitations and many other challenges in nondestructive analysis. The LC-SEM can accommodate samples up to 1500 mm in diameter and 650 lbs due to the size of the vacuum chamber and the Extended View capabilities of the optic system.

In addition to investigations of large samples, the LC-SEM has great potential for in-situ observations of deformation behavior of materials, as well as for relatively small production processes. The LC-SEM makes it possible to perform “interrupted monitoring” experiments for larger engineering parts. Analyzing the lubrication aspects of a typical automotive powertrain system including the engine, transmission, driveline, etc can be investigated using this technique. The parts can be in service for a period of time followed by a tribological investigation of the surfaces in the LC-SEM, bringing them to service immediately after the investigation is completed. This way of monitoring a system open up a wide-range of engineering applications that will permit a more detailed understanding of fundamental physics of these processes to be carried out.

PERSONNEL:

Edward J. Kintzel, Jr., Ph.D.

Director, WKU NOVA Center

Professional Preparation:

State University of New York at Buffalo                                       Mathematical Physics            B.S.   1998

Florida State University                                                              Physics                               M.S.  1999

Florida State University                                                              Physics                               Ph.D. 2002

Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory      Neutron Scattering                  2002-07

Professional Appointments:

2008 - Present        Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, WKU

                             Director, WKU Nondestructive Analysis (NOVA) Center

Jan. 2011-Present   Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physics, University of Alabama - Huntsville 

2007 - 2008           Staff Scientist, Dept. Radiation Oncology, Washington University Medical School

2007 - 2007           Research Fellow, Dept. Radiation Oncology, Washington University Medical School

2002 - 2007           Postdoctoral Research Assoc., Spallation Neutron Source, ORNL

Experimental Techniques

Neutron Scattering (Elastic and Quasielastic)

X-Ray Scattering (Diffraction)

Helium Atom Scattering (Diffraction)

Microscopies (Scanning Electron, Atomic Force, Scanning Tunneling, Fluorescence)

Tomotherapy: CT guided IMRT  

Treatment Planning Systems: Pinnacle³ and Tomotherapy

Publications

1)   Kintzel, Jr., E.J., Herwig, K.W., and Rols, S., “Neutron diffraction study of p-phenylene oligomer molecules adsorbed onto graphite” Thin Solid Films, Vol. 518, pp. 3786-3791, 2010

2)   Smilgies, D.-M. and Kintzel, Jr., E.J., “Epitaxial orientations of para-sexiphenyl platelets grown on alkali halide (001) surfaces” Phys. Rev. B, Volume 79, pp. 235413-1 – 235413-10, 2009

3)   Mamontov, E., Cole, D.R., Daib, S., Pawel, M.D., Liang, C.D., Jenkins, T., Gasparovic, G., Kintzel, E. “Dynamics of water in LiCl and CaCl₂ aqueous solutions confined in silica matrices: A backscattering neutron spectroscopy study” Chem. Phys., Vol. 352, pp. 117-124, 2008

4)    Kintzel, Jr., E.J., Smilgies, D.-M., Skofronick, J.G., Safron , S.A., and Van Winkle, D.H. “Ultrathin film growth of p-phenylene oligomers on alkali halide substrates“  J. Crys. Growth, Vol. 289, Iss. 1, pp. 345-350, 15 March 2006

5)    Kintzel, Jr., E.J., Smilgies, D.-M., Skofronick, J.G., Safron , S.A., and Van Winkle, D.H. “Effect of temperature on the growth of ultrathin films of p-sexiphenyl on KCL001” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 107-110, 2004

Professional Affiliations

Neutron Scattering Society of America

American Physical Society

Materials Research Society

Microscopy Society of America