Contamination Analysis Services

Foreign matter, such as debris, metal shavings, or even insects, may degrade the performance characteristics of a component. Constellation can identify foreign matter using techniques such as optical microscopy, SEM-EDS, infrared spectroscopy, and surface analysis (XPS, Auger).

Constellation can characterize and identify microscopic particulate matter and extraneous fibers using techniques such as optical microscopy, SEM-EDS, and microscopic infrared spectroscopy.

Oil and grease contamination is a common problem in manufacturing processes. The presence of these substances on a component can inhibit performance, prevent coating adhesion and cause corrosion. Oils and greases on component surfaces be detected and identified by infrared spectroscopy. Trace levels of these organics can be extracted using an Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE) or Soxhlet extraction and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Localized surface contamination can be detected by Auger spectroscopy or X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

The presence of volatile chemicals is often detected by the odor the chemicals produce. Constellation has several methods for collecting, detecting and identifying volatile and semivolatile gases given off from solids and liquids. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) and static headspace analysis used in conjunction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) are effective methods for detecting volatile chemicals.

Corrosion of metals is a costly problem that is often caused by environmental or chemical contamination. Constellation has extensive resources for the evaluation of corrosion residues; the first step in determining the source of the corrosion and determining possible solutions. Localized corrosion on the surface of components can be evaluated using surface techniques, such as Auger and XPS. These provide depth profiling that can not only measure the thickness of the corrosion, but also give insight as to the chemical reactions taking place on the surface of the base metal. The presence of potentially corrosive salts can be detected by ion chromatography. The residue chemistry can be determined using SEM-EDS with trace impurities detected by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The compounds produced by the corrosion can be identified by x-ray diffraction (XRD). This information allows the customer to identify the source and eliminate the cause of corrosion.