Chemical Analysis and Corrosion Testing

Chemical analysis provides qualitative/quantative data relating to your products and can be used to provide:

• Independent material overchecks
• Quality control
• Reverse engineering – identify specification with little or no prior data
• Failure analysis and investigations including litigation sample investigation
• Research and development
• Ability to analyse most sample sizes and forms
• Analysis can be used to determine if the material matches a required specification or as a tool to verify incoming material.

Analysis Techniques:

• Spectroscopy – Optical Emission, Inductively Coupled Plasma and Atomic Absorption
• Inert gas fusion – Oxygen, Nitrogen and Hydrogen
• Combustion analysis methods for carbon, sulphur, nitrogen and oxygen
• Classical Gravimetric, Volumetric, Photometric and other “Wet” methods
• Component Cleanliness checks – debris weight and particle size
• XRF Positive Material Identification/Alloy verification – see Ancillary NDT processes

Typical Materials that can be tested:

• Ferrous: Iron, Carbon and Alloy Steels, Stainless Steel (including Duplex Steels), Tool and High Alloy Steels, Cast Iron and SG/Ductile Iron etc.
• Non Ferrous: Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys, Copper and Copper Alloys (including Brasses and Bronzes), Titanium, Nickel Alloys, Zinc Alloys, Cobalt Alloys, Tungsten Alloys, Magnesium, Powder Metals and “White Metals” etc.
• Chemical analysis is also undertaken on some non-metallic materials including foundry sand, some plating and other surface treatment solutions.
• Corrosion testing includes Intercrystalline/Intergranular/Pitting/Crevice methods to specifications which include: BS 5903, ASTM A262, ASTM G28 Ferric Sulphate, ASTM G48 Ferric Chloride, BS EN ISO 3651-2.