This time, we had an interview with Assoc.Prof. Satofumi Maruyama at Tokyo City University, who has purchased Suga’s spark plasma sintering equipment.

We listened to his impressions on our equipment including the differences between other manufacturers and us.
For those who are planning to purchase an SPS, we hope that this interview would be
of help to choose a manufacture.

1.Please tell us about the research you are currently conducting.

My main research is focused on nanotechnology and materials. I synthesize and sinter materials to develop ultra-hard materials that are hard and tough, as well as materials that need to be strong at high temperatures, such as for turbines and heat-resistant tiles.

In addition, I have been conducting research into a wide range of materials, such as electronic materials and thermoelectric materials to obtain better properties.
To put in a nutshell, my research is to get various properties such as hardness, electrical properties, and thermal properties.

Originally, I used to focus on borides, but in these days I have been involving the research on oxides and alloy materials as well.
So I can say that most of the materials are covered..

2.What problems did you face before you got our SPS ?

Up until that time I have borrowed and used it at an institute or a university in other  prefectures  to borrow it, which was not convenient for us actually. 

After I got it in my university, it has been used among some researchers in the university,  And it is great for us to use it whenever we want.

When it comes to functionality, it has been difficult to consolidate borides using conventional methods. Under such circumstances, it could be one of our disadvantages without SPS , that can easily take care of it. But since then the problem could be solved.

3.What motivated you to purchase our SPS ?

Not only is the technology of the equipment highly advanced, but the staff at Suga

has specialized knowledge and skills. There aren’t many people who are knowledgeable not only about the equipment itself but also about the phenomenon of sintered materials, So It is a great help to us.

Although I compared it with other manufacturers, I almost immediately decided
to purchase it from Suga because I had heard that Suga had knowledgeable staff.

4. What do you like about our SPS ?

First of all, the equipment itself is user-friendly and easy to use.  Not only teachers from different departments but also students can use it without any problems.
It is also being used by others in different departments, though.

To top it all, it is one of our benefits to have some advice not only on the operation but also the phenomenon during sintering.  So it’s a great help as well.

I would say that the spark plasma sintering machine is still a black box to us. The phenomena that occur during SPS are not totally understood, and unexpected things sometimes could be seen. At that time we can discuss it with Suga and can have some advice from their expertise as a specialist..

As another feature, the equipment is extremely high durability. I have been using it almost every day for about two years since we installed it, raising the temperature from room temperature to 2000-2500 degree C, and it has been working in a good condition.
I would say that it can be very satisfying equipment when thinking about the running cost.

In case that the equipment does not work properly, I won’t be able to carry out our experiments, but thanks to its high durability, it could contribute to my continued experiments.

5.What are you currently using your SPS for?

It is mainly used for sintering. Other professors are also conducting various research with SPS using oxides, borides, carbides, and nitrides.

Recently, I have been working on unraveling the black box. I have doubts about whether things that are taken for granted in the SPS field are really correct. 
And I am currently trying to unravel the principles by using the unique function of Suga’s SPS..

Other professors are also conducting research, aiming for breakthroughs, to find alternatives to materials that are considered standard in the industry, or even better materials.

Because of its great potential, I am thinking to explore various ways to find any benefits other than the current uses.

6. How do you think that your SPS will be useful in our future life?

SPS is not suitable for mass production, But I think it is suitable for producing a wide variety of materials in small quantities. If I can take its advantage to advance materials research and discover low-cost, high-quality materials, society will become more prosperous.

I believe that materials are the foundation of the infrastructure of social life. Advances in materials research will enrich small equipment (electronic devices, processing tools, etc.), for example, lowering the price of smartphones and increasing their strength.

But materials themselves cannot create a prosperous society. Practical application is only possible when other pieces of research are also in place. Materials are an important piece of the puzzle, and I will continue to use the equipment for sintering and synthesis to find better materials.

Introducing Suga’s spark plasma sintering equipment

Suga’s spark plasma sintering machine, “SPS2000,” is an ideal entry model for research and development. It is a relatively space-saving, durable, safe and easy to operate product.

I can handle a wide range of materials, including not only metals but also oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, and fluorides.

Because SPS has a large parameter window, the equipment allows everyone to conduct  material development even without skill or experience. Maintenance management, such as repairs and modifications, will be carried out by Suga, You can rest assured of their after-sales service.

You can refer to “detailed specifications” on the following page if you are considering to
purchase it.

Take a look at Suga’s spark plasma sintering equipment (SPS)

Conclusion

As a case introduction from Suga , Assoc. Prof. Maruyama shared his honest thoughts on using our spark plasma sintering equipment.

The equipment was highly rated for being user-friendly and easy to use, for having staff with specialized research knowledge. 

Suga responds to various customer requests so that customers can be satisfied with their products even after purchase.

If you are having trouble deciding which product to purchase, we hope you will use this as a reference for your consideration. In addition, Suga has a world –wide  network
so that we can respond in a timely manner anywhere in the world.

For implementation inquiries, please contact us using the form below.

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