Laboratory analysis and expertise of cobalt and cobalt alloys

Chemical analysis Characterization of materials
More than 140 people
More than 140 people at your service
5200 m² laboratory
5200 m² laboratory + 99% of services are provided in-house
Accredited laboratory
Accredited laboratory COFRAC ISO 17025

Our laboratory is expert in metallurgical analysis and the analysis of alloys such as cobalt, offering advanced expertise in determining chemical composition and physico-chemical properties.

Your needs: to carry out an analysis of copper and its cobalt-based alloys

Cobalt is a chemical element with the symbol Co and atomic number 27. It is a member of the transition metal family and is generally found in solid, silver-grey, hard and magnetic form.

Cobalt alloys are used for their resistance to heat and corrosion, which makes them suitable for a wide range of applications. Cobalt alloys are used in the medical, aerospace and marine sectors, for example.

Cobalt is a strategic metal that is resistant, hard and stable at high temperatures, and is used in a number of cutting-edge industrial sectors:

Pure cobalt: magnetic and wear-resistant, it is used in electromagnets, lithium-ion batteries and certain metallurgical processes.
Cobalt-chromium alloys: biocompatible and ultra-resistant to corrosion, they are used in medical implants (orthopaedic, dental) and certain surgical equipment.
Cobalt Stellite Grade 6 and Grade 21 (cobalt-chromium-tungsten-carbon): extremely hard and wear-resistant, this alloy is used in cutting tools, valves and turbine components.
Cobalt-based superalloys: capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, they are used in aircraft turbines, nuclear reactors and the chemical industry.
Cobalt-iron-vanadium (magnetic alloys): very high performance in magnetism, these alloys are used in precision motors, generators and sensors.
Cobalt-nickel alloys: stable in extreme environments, they are used in aeronautics, space and advanced propulsion systems.

Analysis of cobalt alloys

Cobalt alloys, such as stelite, cobalt-chromium alloys, and cobalt-based superalloys, possess diverse properties and are used in numerous industrial sectors.

The FILAB laboratory performs comprehensive analysis of the composition of cobalt alloys to help optimize production and recycling processes, or any other needs you may have as a manufacturer.

We identify alloying elements and measure concentrations to meet the technical specifications of each project.

Analysis of the composition of cobalt

Cobalt composition analysis ensures that materials meet required quality standards.

Our laboratory offers a dedicated service for verifying the chemical composition of cobalt and its alloys, measuring the proportions of chemical elements such as chromium, tungsten, and carbon.

These analyses validate the suitability of materials for applications requiring demanding durability and strength.

Composition analysis of Chromium/Cobalt (Cr/Co) alloy

Cr/Co is an alloy of chromium and cobalt, more specifically known as a cobalt-chromium alloy or CoCr. It is a high-performance metallic material used in demanding sectors such as medicine, aeronautics, and the chemical industry.

These properties make it an alloy perfectly suited to critical environments.

Analyzing the composition of CoCr allows for quality control of the material and ensures that it meets the specific requirements of each sector, in terms of durability, conductivity, and resistance to mechanical stress.

Why choose the FILAB laboratory to analyze cobalt and cobalt alloys?

Our methods for analyzing cobalt and alloys

The FILAB laboratory offers metallurgical analysis services for cobalt to several hundred clients, some of which are COFRAC ISO 17025 accredited.

We use cutting-edge analytical methods, such as optical emission spectrometry and ICP analysis, to provide highly accurate cobalt and cobalt alloy analysis results.

These techniques allow us to detect elements at very low concentrations and provide detailed reports.

Our technical resources

Elemental analyzers C,H,O,N,S

Elemental analyzers

Carbon, Sulphur (C/S)

Elemental analyzers

Nitrogen, Oxygen and Hydrogen (N / O / H)

Spark Spectrometry SEO

Basic analysis techniques ICP-AES and ICP-MS

SEM

Our analysis of metals and alloys

Titanium : TiAl, T40, TA6V

Cobalt : Cobalt Stellite Grade 6, Cobalt Stellite Grade 21

Nickel (Nitinol, Inconel 718, Inconel 625, René 77, Hastelloy X

Aluminium: AS7G06

Tin : SAC 305, SAC 0807, Tin-Lead (SNPB)

To see further: our expertise on cobalt alloys

In addition to routine metallurgical analysis, the FILAB laboratory provides you with its expertise in metallurgical expert analysis and failure studies on your cobalt-based samples such as Cr/Co or stellite:

Weld analysis on cobalt

Study of fracture surfaces on cobalt

Study of ageing (corrosion, surface alteration, etc.) on cobalt

Analysis on medical devices based on Chrome / Cobalt (Cr/Co) according to the standard ASTM F1537 /ISO 5832-12, ISO 5832-4

Thickness measurement of cobalt part coatings

Study of corrosion resistance on cobalt

Analysis and characterization of cobalt surfaces (roughness, defects, etc.)

Study of microstructures on cobalt material

Applications of cobalt alloy analysis

Cobalt and its alloys analysis has applications in a variety of sectors, such as nuclear, automotive, medical devices and aerospace. Whether it’s verifying the purity of cobalt in nuclear reactor components or evaluating the mechanical properties of a cobalt alloy in medical devices, our laboratory puts its expertise at the service of your performance.

FAQ

What is cobalt used for?

Used in:

  • Lithium-ion batteries (electric vehicles, electronics)
  • High performance alloys (turbines, medical implants)
  • Pigments (cobalt blue)
  • Radiotherapy (via the cobalt-60 isotope)
What are common cobalt alloys?
  • Co-Cr: medical implants, surgical tools
  • Stellite: wear and heat resistant parts
  • Superalloys (with Ni, W, Cr): turbines, nuclear
  • Magnetic alloys: motors, sensors
Is cobalt recyclable?

Yes, it is recyclable from metal waste, used batteries or manufacturing waste, including through hydrometallurgy processes.

What is the difference between pure and alloyed cobalt?

Pure cobalt is a metal used for its magnetic properties and wear resistance, but in industry it is often combined with other metals (chrome, nickel, tungsten...) to improve its mechanical performance, corrosion resistance and heat.

Is cobalt resistant to high temperature oxidation?

Yes, especially when combined with chromium. Cobalt-chromium superalloys are particularly resistant to oxidation and thermal degradation.

The filab advantages
A highly qualified team
A highly qualified team
Responsiveness in responding to and processing requests
Responsiveness in responding to and processing requests
A COFRAC ISO 17025 accredited laboratory
A COFRAC ISO 17025 accredited laboratory
(Staves available on www.cofrac.com - Accreditation number: 1-1793)
A complete analytical park of 5,200m²
A complete analytical park of 5,200m²
Tailor-made support
Tailor-made support
Emmanuel BUIRET Metallurgical Specialist
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