---
type: "WebPage"
title: "Laboratory for the analysis of pollution on metal parts"
description: "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..."
resource: "https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/laboratory-analysis-deposit-contamination/laboratory-for-the-analysis-of-pollution-on-metal-parts/"
tags: ["EN", "pll_627e647ae959e", "Anaïs DECAUX"]
timestamp: "2025-12-31T08:44:31Z"
published: "2022-06-15T14:08:21Z"
language: "en"
author: "bwa"
---

# Laboratory for the analysis of pollution on metal parts

## 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](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-surface-characterization.md) 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](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/laboratory-analysis-failures.md), 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](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources.md) 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](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-sem-scanning-electron-microscopy.md)) 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](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-icp-icp-ms-icp-aes.md)) will allow, once the sample is dissolved, to identify and quantify its chemical elements.
o Mineral deposit or pollution: X-ray Diffraction ([XRD](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/x-ray-crystallography-laboratory-xrd/analysis-and-characterization-of-materials-by-x-ray-diffraction-xrd-in-the-laboratory/)) 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.