
FAILURE ANALYSIS
Do you need to know what causes the sudden failure of an equipment or component?
Do you want to rapidly understand the problem?
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WHEN A FAILURE ANALYSIS IS PERFORMED?
A failure analysis is performed when a system, an equipment or a component is subjected to an early, sudden or unexpected failure.
The main principles of this analysis are applicable to any branch of manufacturing sector since the triggering factors can be divided in three specific classes:
- Chemistry and microstructure of the material;
- Manufacturing process parameters and operating conditions;
- Influence of external factors such as aggressive environment and thermal or mechanical load conditions.
Corrective actions should be taken as soon as possible.
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WHICH ARE THE FACTORS THAT BRING TO A PRODUCT’S FAILURE?
Traditionally, the failure of a component is associated with mechanical load, but this is only the final cause of the collapse.
There are some hints that allow to recognize the failure initiation before catastrophic rupture, such as:
- Presence of defects such as porosity, inclusions, precipitates, impurities and surface cracks;
- Under-paint corrosion, pit, ant nest corrosion, erosion-corrosion;
- Degradation, change in crystallinity and degree of crosslinking;
- Embrittlement, solvent attack, transparency or colour loss and crazing.
Preliminary investigation can save your component from irreversible damage.
Contact our laboratory for a customized analysis!
WHICH MATERIALS CAN BE INVESTIGATED?
MaterialScan carries out specific analyses on several materials and products.
In particular, the great experience gained in technical support to customers allows us to offer professional services in the following areas:
- Structures and components made of steel and other metal alloys
- Plastics (e.g. extruded or moulded parts) and rubber (e.g. seals)
- Composite materials with thermoplastic and thermosetting matrix
- Advanced ceramics
- Paints, varnishes and coatings
- Adhesives
Our strength consists in the accurate microscopic examination, performed directly on site during inspection, on any material or component!
Share your problem with us: we will plan a customized service for you.
QUALITY CONTROL AND SUPPLIER VALIDATION
A critical step, in particular for plastics, is the quality control of input materials. Sometimes it is possible to find defects, non-conformities or deviations between the properties of materials belonging to different batches, or when the supplier is substituted.
Usually, technical data sheets do not provide all of the information needed in order to introduce a new material into your production process.
Thanks to our specifically equipped laboratory, MaterialScan performs an in-depth material characterization and provides you all the details about chemical, mechanical, thermal and microstructural properties necessary to optimize the manufacturing process.