As an industrialist you wish to carry out a pollution analysis on a metal part
What is pollution?
First of all, it is necessary to understand what is called pollution. In constant interaction with the external environment, the surface of a material represents a vulnerable and unstable zone. These attacks can lead to the formation of pollution on the surface of a material.
Pollution can be metallic, mineral or organic in nature. The origin of a deposit or pollution is not always easy to identify: it can be present at the reception of the raw material, appear during the production process or be declared in its final environment.
What are the impacts of pollution on the viability of the material?
The performance of a material is directly linked to its surface properties. Thus, the presence of pollution on a material can lead to a material failure, whether visual (appearance of a stain, irregularities, color change…) or functional (adhesion problem, harmfulness…).
Thus, qualifying the cleanliness of a surface according to legal or internal standards is an essential action in the production or maintenance process of a material. The identification of the chemical nature of a deposit or of a possible pollution by an analysis laboratory will allow to define the necessary actions to eliminate it before the marketing.
Pollution analysis on metal parts: a specific expertise of FILAB laboratory
FILAB’s state-of-the-art analytical equipment and multi-sector expertise enable it to respond quickly and reliably to the pollution analysis needs of its industrial clients.
Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with a microprobe (SEM-EDX) will, in a first step, allow to identify the nature and the chemical composition of a pollution. The sample will then be redirected to analytical tools allowing a more specific identification of its nature:
o Metallic deposit or pollution: plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-AES or ICP-MS) will allow, once the sample is dissolved, to identify and quantify its chemical elements.
o Mineral deposit or pollution: X-ray Diffraction (XRD) identifies and quantifies the crystalline phases in a sample to know its composition.
o Deposition or organic pollution: chromatography (GC-MS, LC-MS) or spectroscopy (FTIR, µ-IRTF) will be used in this case to break down the molecules of the deposit in order to analyze them more easily.
Our experts will then compile a complete report including the analysis performed, the interpretation of the results accompanied by photographs, and, according to your requests, advice and a proposal for support in the development of rapid solutions to eliminate the impurity.
