Materials science
Examination of materials and components regarding structure and composition, production process and operation.
Examination possibilities at the Materials Testing Laboratory
Macroscopic photographs and sample preparation
Macroscopic photographs
Creation of macroscopic detailed photographs of your samples and components with a specific focus on potentially defective areas Identification of macroscopic faults and damaged points Documentation of the disassembly and evaluation strategy for samples and components Use of a standard digital camera, image background blue or white Sample preparation
Processing of all common metallic materials on an Fe, Cu, Al, Zn or Ni basis If applicable, macro photographs are taken of the areas concerned Disassembly of the component and separation of samples. Embedding of samples (hot or cold, Ø 40mm). Sample preparation by grinding and polishing, or electrolytic polishing Chemical treatment of the sample surface by etching
Light microscopy
Creation of structural images for material and damage analysis Examination of matrix structures, casting phases, and secondary and tertiary depositions Digital image analysis to determine the proportion of individual structural constituents, their morphological analysis, etc. Equipment: ZEISS incident light microscope, KEYENCE digital microscope, IMS and Zeiss image processing and analysis software
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDX measurement
Imaging of structure under particularly high magnification Visualisation of topography effects on a sample 3D measurement of sample with digital analysis; optical roughness determination Qualitative determination of the composition of a sample using energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) Equipment: SEM Tescan VEGA3 with Bruker EDX
Differential thermal analysis (DTA)
Taking representative material samples Heating / cooling the sample to record energy flows Creation of temperature profiles Indication of transformation temperatures and linking with material-specific reactions Recipes for targeted heating and cooling, e.g. for heat treatments or other annealing processes Equipment: DTA 703 from the company BÄHRalyse
Thermal analyses
Temperature measurements
Instrumenting tests for temperature measurement Measured value acquisition (ALMEMO or LabView) Evaluation of temperature curves and their analysis
Thermal analysis
Recording cooling curves from melting Identifying conversion points Analysing structural quality using measured values, in combination with metallographic specimens Equipment: Thermal analysis system from the company OCC
Mechanical testing of materials
Hardness test Sample preparation: Exposure of areas to be examined and preparation of the surface Testing on at least three representative points If applicable, selection of areas for further examinations (metallography) Testing method in accordance with Vickers, Brinell and Rockwell Equipment: GNEHM hardness testing machine, micro hardness test Tensile testing Processing of standardised test geometries Tensile tests indicating the test parameters strain rate and traverse speed Determination of the static strength (Rm, RP0,2) of the e-module, as well as stretch Equipment: ZWICK tensile testing machine 100 kN Further information about mechanical component testing
Spark emission spectroscopy
Quantitative analysis of the composition of a metallic material Aluminium, iron and copper standard Brand / type: SPECTRO / SPECTROLAB
Process simulation
DEFORM to simulate deformation processes in metals (2D and 3D) MAGMASoft for simulating mould-filling and solidification in casting processes
Analysis of the results
The process for analysis and the subsequent report is discussed in detail at the beginning The results are delivered either in report form or as individual results of each examination, as you wish If you require a report is selected, the examination results are supported by sound foundations
We would be happy to examine your question and develop possible solutions on the path to process and material optimisation, damage analysis, and the development of new products or manufacturing methods.
