SERVICES
We can help with your materials related projects....
FAILURE ANALYSIS
Detailed examination of bent, broken, or corroded parts can generally provide considerable evidence of the cause of failure. Evidence of static and dynamic overload, overheating, the type and direction of stress, material flaws or defects, the role of welding or corrosion, and other factors contributing to failure can generally be identified from a careful examination by an experienced investigator. Our failure analysis services often include the techniques listed below:
Non-destructive inspection, including visual, dye penetrant, and magnetic particle inspection, ultrasonic inspection, and radiographic examination.
Dimensional inspection, including CMM or non-contact inspection.
Mechanical testing, including hardness/microhardness, tensile testing, Charpy impact testing, etc.
Chemical analysis of alloys, contaminants, and corrodants.
Scanning electron microscope examination of fracture surfaces.
Metallographic examination of cross sections.
Review of the failure circumstances.
Report writing.
REVERSE ENGINEERING
Materials and manufacturing methods for most engineering components can be determined by a careful analysis. Dimensional inspection, chemical analysis, and mechanical testing can often provide information sufficient to create a material specification and to specify a manufacturing process. Our extensive experience and familiarity with many manufacturing processes including casting, forging, welding, heat treating, plating, machining, and other technologies allows us to identify the materials and manufacturing processes that were used to produce a component.
MATERIALS and PROCESS SELECTION
Our familiarity with available metals and alloys allows us to recommend materials for applications ranging from artificial hips to bulldozer blades.
CONDITION ASSESSMENT
Reliable service lives of components ranging from bridges to boiler tubes can often be characterized by a combination of non-destructive and limited destructive testing. We use metallographic replication to characterize the extent of creep damage and overheating in steam piping, valve bodies, and boiler tubes. Our magnetic particle and dye penetrant inspections can monitor crack growth to allow continued service of damaged machinery. Quantitative estimation of stress rupture and fatigue lives can be provided from stress data, temperature data, dimensional inspection, and material property determination.
DEFECT CHARACTERIZATION
Excessive distortion, non-metallic inclusions, porosity, cracking, incomplete weld metal penetration, low hardness or tensile strength, and other material problems can result in costly scrap. Metallurgical analysis of penetrant indications, radiographic indications, etc. or review of manufacturing methods can help identify and reduce or eliminate the causes of scrap. We frequently work with manufacturers to identify the causes of non-conformant material and increase manufacturing yields.
Laboratory Capabilities
Microscopy
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
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Secondary and backscattered electron imaging
Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX)
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Semi-quantitative chemistry
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Elemental x-ray mapping
Light Microscopy
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Reflected light microscopy
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Transmitted light microscopy
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Dark field
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Bright field
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DIC illumination
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Quantitative image analysis
Non-Destructive Testing
Penetrant inspection
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Red dye
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Fluorescent
Magnetic particle inspection
Ultrasonic thickness measurement
X-ray Fluorescence
Optical Profilometry
Video Probe Inspection
Metallographic Sample Preparation
Hot and cold mounting
Mechanical and electro-polishing
Chemical etching
Electrolytic etching
esting (NDT)
Hardness Testing
Rockwell
Vickers
Knoop
Brinell
Sectioning
Vertical and horizontal band saws
Diamond wafering saw
Water cooled abrasive cut off