Chemical Laboratory

Particle Analysis

Organic and inorganic particles as well as fibres can impair functionality or even cause system damage over the long term. Using RAMAN and FTIR spectroscopy we identify organic and inorganic particles as well as fibres on relevant surfaces in the context of technical cleanliness verification.

Fully automatic analysis of the particles via spectral comparison provides information about:

• Type of particle:
• Fibres
• Plastics/elastomers
• Salts
• Quantity and size classes of the particles
• Material classification
• Specification of the damage the particles can cause
• Analyses in accordance with VDA 19/19.1/19.2, ISO 16232 and customer requirements

Find out about our detailed analysis options for organic and inorganic particles.

Chemical-filmic residues

Chemical-filmic residues on surfaces can interfere with or hinder subsequent manufacturing steps such as bonding, welding, printing or assembly. Our chemical laboratory analyses manufacturing and cleaning residues such as grease, oil, coolants, cleaning media, etc. for you. We offer you a broad spectrum of quantitative and qualitative analyses for filmic contamination:

• Test ink for the determination of the surface tension
• Fluorescence measurement for the detection of filmic contamination
• Quantification and identification of organic compounds by means of gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionisation detector (FID) or coupled with a mass spectrometer (MS)
• RAMAN and FTIR spectroscopy for the verification and identification of the material
• Gravimetric assessment (e.g. in accordance with ASTM G93)

You will find detailed information about the verification of chemical-filmic contamination here.

Ionic contamination

Ionic contamination on electronic assemblies, medical products or automotive components is often the cause of malfunctions and failures; however it can also cause problems already in manufacture during coating and bonding processes. With ion chromatography we have a sensitive verification method for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of ionic contamination on component surfaces:

• Assessment of the ionic contamination (anions, cations and organic acids) present on the assembly
• Qualitative and quantitative resolution of individual ions
• Verification of purity compliant with regulations
• Analyses in accordance with IPC-TM-650 2.3.28 and customer-specific requirements

Find out more about the verification and identification of ionic contamination.

Battery recycling

At the end of their service life, lithium-ion batteries are a valuable source of raw materials for the production of new batteries. Using instrumental analytics, we support you during the analysis of individual recycling fractions from battery cells.

Analysis options and parameters:

• Sample preparation
  (screening, grinding and breaking down of the individual fractions)
• Determination of the particle size distribution
• Determination of the material composition/concentration, e.g. lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper or aluminium
• Identification of plastics and their proportions
• Determination of the VOC content
• Determination of the water/dry content
• Electrolyte analysis
• Identification of solvents

You will find detailed information about the assessment of recycling fractions here.

Process water analytics

We test and check your water-mixed cooling lubricants, process water and cleaning baths:

• Measurement of the pH value
• Conductivity measurement
• Determination of the water hardness
• Determination of the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in accordance with DIN EN 1899-1
• Determination of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in accordance with DIN ISO 15705
• Determination of the total organic carbon (TOC) in accordance with DIN EN 1484
• Turbidity measurement in accordance with DIN EN ISO 7025
• Photometric colour measurement in accordance with DIN EN ISO 7887 (colour index, Hazen, iodine, Gardner, yellowness)
• Quantitative assessment of organic and inorganic substances (e.g. nitrites, nitrates, sulphates, ammonia, iron, manganese, chloride, calcium, magnesium, fluoride, anionic tensides and more)

Find out more about our options for the analysis of process water and cleaning baths.

PFAS analytics

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a huge group of industrially produced chemicals from the group of halogens. They are found in countless everyday products. The compounds are difficult to break down and accumulate in the environment, the food chain and in the human body. Because of their robustness, halogen compounds are also known as perpetual chemicals. Using combustion ion chromatography (CIC), we can determine the total concentration - also known as the sum parameter - of adsorbable and extractable organically bound fluorine (AOF/EOF) in a sample.

• Detection of the total concentration of fluorine using the sum parameters AOF, EOF and TOF in a variety of matrices: water, soil, plastics, biological samples
• Support in the production of certified, PFAS-free components
• No determination of individual substances, but measurement of the sum parameter
• High accuracy due to combustion IC (CIC)
• Analysis in accordance with ASTM D7359-23, ASTM D5987-96 (2007)

Find out more about the detection and identification of PFAS chemicals here.