Materials Processing Institute develops new high-temperature XRD capability to support advanced materials research
Press Release issued 19/12/2025
The Materials Processing Institute (MPI) has developed a high-temperature X-ray Diffraction (XRD) capability that allows researchers and industrial partners to examine how materials behave under extreme temperatures.
It places MPI among a relatively small number of UK facilities able to offer in-situ high-temperature XRD analysis up to 1600°C for industrial and academic clients.
This new capability provides real-time observation of phase transformations in ceramics, slags, minerals and metal alloys replicating conditions found in such industrial processes as casting, foundry operations and high-temperature kilns.
It has been delivered through the PRISM research programme, funded by Innovate UK, which supports innovation, productivity and sustainability across the UK metals and steel sector as it transitions toward net-zero and circular-economy practices.
Demand for in-situ XRD analysis from ambient temperatures up to 1600°C – a temperature hotter than most volcanic lava - is increasing as manufacturers and academics seek to understand phase changes during heating and cooling.
MPI’s platinum hot stage XRD capability is up to around 1400°C. To increase the temperature analysis capability researchers in their Advanced Materials Characterisation Centre designed and built a tantalum-based hot stage capable of delivering stable, accurate measurements at significantly higher temperatures while reducing contamination and wear.
It significantly enhances MPI’s ability to support clients working with high-temperature materials across a wide range of industrial processes, including steelmaking and metallurgical refining, refractory and furnace lining design, glass and mineral processing, foundry and casting operations, cement and slag manufacture, pyrometallurgy and ore reduction, advanced ceramics and composites, high-temperature additive manufacturing, and applications in the energy, hydrogen and chemical sectors.
Chris Oswin, CEO of the Materials Processing Institute, said: “Developing this new high-temperature XRD capability represents a major step forward for UK materials science. By enabling accurate analysis up to 1600°C, we can support industry with insights that were previously out of reach.
“This in-house technology gives manufacturers the confidence to innovate, optimise their processes and understand how materials behave in real-world conditions. It reinforces our commitment to providing world-class research expertise through the PRISM programme.”
ENDS
Contact us at enquiries@mpiuk.com
19 December 2025
