---
type: "WebPage"
title: "Laboratory analysis of surface chemistry"
description: "Surface chemistry analysis of materials, a FILAB laboratory expertise Surface chemistry focuses on the surface properties of materials. It makes it possible, when necessary, to modify the chemical properties of material surfaces in order to give them new properties suited..."
resource: "https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-surface-characterization/laboratory-analysis-surface-chemistry/"
tags: ["EN", "pll_616834a8a0c65", "Thomas GAUTIER"]
timestamp: "2026-06-09T10:24:18Z"
published: "2021-10-15T08:14:07Z"
language: "en"
author: "Laure Durieux"
---

# Laboratory analysis of surface chemistry

## Surface chemistry analysis of materials, a FILAB laboratory expertise

Surface chemistry focuses on the surface properties of materials. It makes it possible, when necessary, to modify the chemical properties of material surfaces in order to give them new properties suited to their intended use. Surface chemistry may involve a coating, a surface treatment, a specific industrial process, paint, etc…

## Our surface chemistry analysis techniques

The FILAB laboratory has a state-of-the-art [analytical platform](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources.md) and multisector expertise, enabling it to respond with high responsiveness and reliability to its industrial clients’ surface chemical analysis needs.

Our laboratory offers several complementary analytical techniques such as:

- [SIMS Technique](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-tof-sims.md) / TOF-SIMS
- [XPS/ESCA](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-xps-esca.md)

Our expertise and our complementary strengths in chemistry and materials science ensure you complete and reliable expertise for all your surface chemistry analysis needs. These techniques complement other surface analysis equipment such as SEM-FEG-EDX or our Optical Microscopes.

## Example of problem solving through surface chemistry analysis

**Medical and surface chemistry analysis:**

- Checking the surface cleanliness of a medical device as part of a cleaning process validation approach
- Identifying, through the complementary use of [ToF-SIMS](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-tof-sims.md) and [XPS](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-xps-esca.md) techniques, the presence of residual detergents on the surface of an implant
- Characterizing the surface of a medical device: morphology by [FEG-SEM](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-sem-scanning-electron-microscopy.md), elemental surface chemistry by [XPS](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-xps-esca.md), molecular characterization by ToF-SIMS, contaminant detection, …

**Aerospace/Automotive and surface chemistry analysis:**

- Assessing a paint adhesion issue on a material (elemental identification of contamination by XPS or FEG-SEM, [molecular analysis](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/chemical-analysis-laboratory/laboratory-molecular-characterization.md) by TOF-SIMS…)
- Identification of sizing product present on the surface of fibers for the development of [composite material](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/polymer-materials-analysis-laboratory/laboratory-analysis-composite-material.md)
- Characterization of a passivation process on [aluminum alloy](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/metallurgical-analysis-laboratory/laboratory-analysis-aluminum-alloys.md)

**Electronics and surface chemistry analysis:**

- Identification of a [contamination](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/laboratory-analysis-deposit-contamination.md) present at the interface of a bonded assembly and causing an adhesion issue
- Failure analysis following a loss of functionality in a system

**Pharmaceutical and surface chemistry analysis:**

- Identification of a [contamination](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/laboratory-analysis-particulate-contaminant.md) present on the internal surface of a [glass](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-material-testing/laboratory-analysis-expertise-glass.md) container
- Characterization of the [extreme surface](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-surface-characterization/laboratory-analysis-outermost-surface.md) on packaging with a sealing issue