Materialography - fast, cost-effective and high-resolution
Our microscopic and spectroscopic analyses provide valuable information about surfaces, structures and the material composition of your components. Damage analysis indicates possible sources of defects. Even at short notice, we can provide you with a perfect result that answers open questions and helps you to rectify problems. For this purpose, we combine, as required, various inspection methods for metallic as well as non-metallic materials in a cost-effective manner.
Fast, reliable measurement results
at Quality Analysis
- Vickers, Knoop and Brinell hardness testing
- Weld seam and solder joint inspection
- Microstructure analysis
- Analysis of coatings and coating systems
- Porosity analysis
- Damage analysis in accordance with VDI3822
- Fracture surface analysis
- Corrosion inspection
- Analysis of contamination
- Characterization of surface topography
- Tensile, compressive and bending testing
- Analysis of electronic assemblies in accordance with IPC-A-600 / IPC-A-610
- Analysis of lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells
Destructive material inspection
Destructive material inspection for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of material characteristics is used for testing soldered joints and welded joints, microstructure analysis, corrosion inspection, the analysis of coatings, hardness testing and more.
Systematic damage analysis
During systematic damage analysis on components subject to static and dynamic loads, we offer you, among other services, fracture surface analysis, the analysis of corrosion behaviour, checks on welding defects, wear analysis (tribology) and forensic material testing.
Scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM)
High-resolution depiction and analysis of surfaces and structures are the domain of scanning electron microscopy. We use this microscopy to depict the topography of components, analyse damage and determine the chemical composition of surfaces, among other uses.
Focused ion beam microscopy (FIB)
FIB-SEM microscopy makes possible the 3D imaging of a specimen in nanoscale. It is used during the in-depth analysis of delicate coatings as well as to determine the material composition and analyse microstructures, or to inspect solder joints.
Applications for Materialography
Materialography is used in manufacturing industry for optimizing processes or identifying sources of defects. At Quality Analysis we combine excellent expertise and the latest technology with an interdisciplinary approach that makes possible a holistic analysis of your components and materials. From the preparation of samples, to the production of informative, comprehensible documentation, you can rely on our competence.
Electronics Manufacturing
During the manufacture of semiconductors and other high-performance electronics, the delicate coatings on wafers, chips and other components can be analysed in depth and the material composition as well as the condition of solder joints or microstructures can be assessed.
For this purpose, we use high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and FIB-SEM microscopy to generate cross-sections that are almost completely free of mechanical and thermal effects.
Battery Cell Analysis
Batteries are becoming increasingly important, particularly in the fields of energy storage and mobility. In this context, maximum reliability is essential.
Quality Analysis’s materialographic analyses provide you with that assurance. We support companies in research and prototyping as well as in the mass production of modern high-performance batteries.
Security & Defence
In the security and defense industries, materials testing and materialography play a crucial role in ensuring the functional safety, reliability, and quality of sensitive systems. This involves examining materials, welded joints, coatings, electronic components, and the strength of structures and components, as well as testing them for potential contamination.
Modern analytical methods such as materialography, SEM-EDX, X-ray and 3D CT examinations, as well as residual contamination analyses, enable the early identification of defects and weaknesses. This helps reduce the probability of failure and ensures compliance with applicable standards and documentation requirements.
Medical Technology
Quality assurance is of particular importance in the medical technology sector. Material defects, cracks, porosity, or contamination in implants, surgical instruments, or plastic components can have serious consequences for patients and manufacturers.
That is why we inspect medical devices using high-precision methods such as 3D computed tomography (CT), SEM/EDX analysis, materialography, and dimensional measurement technology to identify even the smallest irregularities early and reliably.
Automotive
Automotive components must withstand extreme mechanical and thermal stresses over hundreds of thousands of kilometers. The demands placed on materials, manufacturing, and assembly are correspondingly high.
At Quality Analysis, we examine metallic materials, ceramics, and electronic components using precise testing and analysis methods. These include, among other things, microscopic surface inspections, hardness and weld seam tests, as well as damage analyses to investigate corrosion, causes of fracture, wear, and surface anomalies.
Technical equipment for materialography
The right inspection method
for every task
Added Value at Quality Analysis
Speed
Even at short notice, we offer you quick, precise materialographic analysis and assessment of your components and materials.
Quality
Excellent know-how, extensive experience and a high-end range of equipment guarantee you high-quality measurement results always.
Range of equipment
The right equipment is available for every materialographic analysis. Here we rely on products of German quality from ZEISS.
Accreditation
The Accreditation of our inspection methods and laboratories signifies for you certainty, dependability and objectivity.
Accredited test laboratory
for materialography
Our analytical methods for the destructive inspection of non-metallic and metallic materials, weld seam and solder seam analysis on metallic materials, layer thickness measurement, measurement of edge oxidation and determination of particle size, porosity analysis in metallic materials and coatings, particle analysis of non-metallic, carbon-based, organic and mineral particles, hardness testing, hardness curves and direct hardness measurement on metallic materials are accredited by Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAkkS) in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. We are one of the few test laboratories in Europe in which all specialist areas have been successfully accredited
You can read more about the advantages our accreditation offers you here:
Frequently Asked Questions about Materialography
During destructive metallographic material inspection, numerous analytical methods are available to us. As such, the inspection of soldered and welded joints is possible as is corrosion inspection, the analysis of coatings, Vickers, Knoop and Brinell hardness testing, or we can analyze the microstructure of your component. A large number of light and scanning electron microscopic methods are also available.
In our laboratory, a very wide range of preparation methods is available such that we can analyse and assess for you both very small components and also larger components up to 600 x 600 x 1200 mm without problems. Should you have questions about the analysis of a specific component, simply call us. We would be pleased to advise you about your specific component, without obligation of course.
2D X-ray inspection and 3D computed tomography play an important role during the pre-inspection of components, as they quickly provide an insight into the interior of the component analysed and permit the exact specification of regions of interest (ROIs). In addition, chemical analytics can also be used here for the identification and quantification of organic samples, e.g. contamination.
Metallography is a branch of materialography. It includes the extraction, preparation (sample preparation), analysis and evaluation of metallic samples. The development of new materials (ceramics, plastics, etc.) and their increasing importance in industry has expanded this field of activity – metallography has become materialography.
Quality Analysis
the right partner
for the materialography
What can we measure and analyse for you?
We would be pleased to advise you about the numerous possibilities and combined analytical methods. The goal: the best, most cost-effective and most efficient analysis of your sample.