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Characterisation (physical-chemical analysis laboratory, metal analyses)

Chemical analysis of metals is a significant stage in physical-chemical characterisation processes and failure analysis.

CETIM-CERMAT has complete equipment to characterise any metallic material in whatever size or shape:

Complete analysis of alloys

• Non-alloyed and lightly alloyed steels
• Stainless steels
• Cuprous metals (pure and alloyed coppers, brasses, bronzes, cuprous-aluminium)
• Alloyed and non-alloyed cast irons
• Aluminium alloys
• Zinc alloys
• Etc.

Specific analyses

• Oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2)
• Hydrogen (H2)
• Carbon (C) and sulphur (S)
• Proportioning of metals in plastics
• Silicon by gravimetry in cast irons (COFRAC accredited analyses, range on request), aluminium, etc.
• Coatings, metallic or non-metallic

COFRAC accredited analyses (range communicated on request)

• Alloyed and non-alloyed steels
• Alloyed and non-alloyed cast irons
• Carbon, sulphur and silicon contents

Analysis on site

• Portable spark optical emission spectrometer
• 4 precalibrated programmes: steels (alloyed and non-alloyed), titanium bases, nickel bases and aluminium alloys
• Sorting, PMI (Positive Material Identification)
• Allows carbon content to be determined
• Also usable in the laboratory for a non-destructive analysis

Analyses in accordance with RoSH, REACH, etc. directives

Analyses of heavy metals, still called environmental analyses, are increasingly of current concern: the directive RoSH has been applicable since 1 July 2006, while the European ELV (End of Live Vehicle) directive is to come into application on 1 July 2007. Other directives, as with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) also impose the proportioning of heavy metals.

Proportioning heavy metals

• By X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry
• By plasma
• All types of parts

Proportioning of chromium VI (hexavalent chromium)

• In accordance with applicable standards
  (NF EN ISO 3613, ASTM D6492, etc.)
• Qualitative and quantitative
• On coatings with chromate finishing

Highlighting the presence of chromium VI on zinc-ed part with a trivalent chromate finishing treatment.

Elementary micro-analysis

Two X-Ray Fluorescence probes coupled with a scanning electron microscope: an Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) probe and a Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray (WDX) probe.

Examples of WDX probe use:
Detection of small quantities of sulphur on all small parts made of brass with lead (in EDX, interferences from lead and sulphur preventing sulphur detection).
Profile of carbon concentration on micrographic cross-section.

Surface analyses

• Elementary profiles using a Luminescent Discharge spectrometer
• Micro-analyses (see above and section on surface part failure analyses)
• Multi-layer coatings, whether metallic or not

Equipment:

• 4 JOBIN-YVON optical emission spectrometers: spark (SEO), plasma (ICP), luminescent discharge spectrometry (SDL or GDL)
• 1 PHILIPS PW 2404 wavelength dispersive X-Ray fluorescence spectrometer
• 2 OXFORD X-Ray fluorescence probes coupled to LEO scanning electron microscope
• 2 LECO gas analysers (oxygen + nitrogen, hydrogen)
• 1 LECO carbon and sulphur analyser
• 1 electrolyser (copper proportioning)
• 1 portable SEO BELEC COMPACT PORT analyser