MET laboratory: identifying and quantifying unknown contamination

An unknown contamination can cause product non-conformity, an appearance defect, reduced performance, a production stoppage, or regulatory risk. In industry, the challenge is not only to visualize a particle or deposit, but also to determine its nature, morphology, size, location and, when necessary, its associated chemical composition. MET analysis is particularly well suited when contaminants are fine, complex, or submicron to nanometric in size. It makes it possible to go beyond simple observation and to document the sample structure precisely in order to guide root cause analysis, defect qualification, or process securing.

Using a MET analysis is relevant when conventional observation methods are no longer sufficient to explain a contamination. This is especially the case for very fine particles, residues invisible to the naked eye, deposits localized within the material, defects after surface treatment, contamination causing functional failure, or recurring quality deviations. TEM also makes it possible to investigate internal structures, interfaces, inclusions and complex assemblies when understanding the defect requires very high resolution.

The MET Laboratory can provide essential information on the size, shape, organization, thickness, heterogeneity and distribution of a contamination. Transmission electron microscopy makes it possible to observe particles, thin layers, aggregates, inclusions or interfaces with a level of detail suited to fine contamination issues. Depending on the case, the study may reveal a crystalline, amorphous, fibrous, lamellar, porous or agglomerated structure, which helps guide the likely origin of the pollutant and its formation mechanism.

The effectiveness of an investigation depends not only on the instrumentation, but also on the quality of sampling, preparation, choice of techniques and interpretation of the results. An expert laboratory builds an analytical plan tailored to your industrial issue, whether it involves identifying a deposit, comparing several batches, qualifying particulate contamination, or documenting a failure. The goal is to provide results that can be directly used to decide: correct a process, qualify a supplier, secure a raw material, or justify a quality action.

The MET Laboratory provides industrial clients with PhDs and engineers capable of building a tailor-made analytical strategy based on the nature of the contamination, the substrate analyzed and the expected objective: identification, comparison, doubt removal, failure analysis, or complementary quantification. Transmission electron microscopy can be combined with other techniques to strengthen interpretation, notably the Laboratoire analysis Met, the Laboratoire Analyse Meb for surface observation and elemental analysis, or composition analysis by ICP, XRD, FTIR or Raman depending on the matrix studied. This cross-disciplinary approach makes it possible to characterize metallic, mineral, organic or particulate deposits on many industrial matrices.

This expertise is intended for many industrial sectors: metallurgy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, plastics processing, electronics, energy, or surface treatment. It can be used in failure analysis, particle investigation, nanoparticle characterization, comparison between compliant and non-compliant samples, or contamination studies originating from a bath, raw material, packaging, or the production environment. For specific needs involving sensitive samples, the study can also be directed toward analysis Cryo Microscopie Electronique or the Laboratoire analysis Cryo Met.

When the objective includes chemical nature or quantification, TEM is integrated into a multi-technique strategy. An observation can be correlated with elemental analysis by SEM-EDX for semi-quantitative identification of composition, with quantification by ICP-AES or ICP-MS for chemical elements, with XRD for crystalline phases, or with FTIR/Raman for organic and polymeric compounds. This complementarity is decisive in turning a microscopic finding into a conclusion that can be used by quality, R&D, production or HSE teams.

Choosing Filab means relying on an independent laboratory with complementary analytical capabilities, support from PhDs and engineers, and experience with a wide range of industrial matrices. The laboratory works on issues involving deposits, contamination, elemental impurities, organic and inorganic residues, particles and nanoparticles. It can also develop tailor-made analytical methods and mobilize complementary techniques, including the Laboratoire analysis Gc Tea when the search for specific organic compounds is relevant to the overall investigation.

To start a study, it is necessary to specify the matrix, the context in which the issue occurred, the observed symptoms, the level of urgency and the expected objective. An expert laboratory can then define the most relevant protocol: observe the contamination, prepare suitable cross-sections, compare a compliant and non-compliant sample, identify the nature of the deposit, complete the study with targeted quantification and deliver interpreted results. To move forward efficiently, it is recommended to provide useful process information, the conditions under which the defect appeared and, if possible, reference samples.