FAILURE ANALYSIS

We provide an independent failure investigation service for metallic and polymeric materials.

Our expertise in failure investigation includes:

• Fatigue, brittle and ductile fracture mechanisms.
• Corrosion processes, stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement of metals.
• Chemical attack and environmental stress cracking of polymers.
• Wear mechanisms, adhesive, abrasive, cavitation erosion and fretting.

We have extensive laboratory equipment providing high quality analysis of all aspects of a failure:

• Electron microscopy coupled with x-ray analysis to examine fracture surfaces, identify and analyse features of interest.
• Optical microscopy to examine relevant microstructural features.
• Macroscopic examination
• Chemical analysis
• Mechanical properties
• Hardness testing including bulk methods and microhardness surveying.
• Thermal analysis using DSC and TGA
• Plastic and Rubber analysis using FTIR

Our areas of expertise include:

• Industrial - bolts, shafts, gears, lifting equipment, hydraulics, pipes, tubes, springs
• Automotive - powertrain, valvetrain, brakes, suspension
• Railway
• Marine
• Catering - contaminants, corrosion
• Domestic - pipe and plumbing fittings, electrical
• Medical devices
• Electronic devices
• Dust analysis
• Paint analysis