In the metallographic analysis, the behaviour of materials during construction and operation is closely related to the microstructural aspects of metal alloys. Unilab has a team specialized in metallurgy that allows us to find solutions for the customer and adequately deal with any situation where it is necessary to analyze the metal alloy.

Situations such as microstructural transformations induced by thermal cycles or plastic deformation processes and evaluations of the microstructural suitability of a material, are difficult to manage by internal quality control companies. In many cases they involve an excessive expenditure of resources in terms of costs and time in the production realities. Our laboratory, through combined tests and analyses, allows us to deal with these conditions from several points of view.

THE IMPORTANCE OF METALLOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

Metallographic analysis allows the determination of the microstructure of metals on several levels of investigation (at a macro or micro graphic level).

These analyses can be used to determine grain size and crystal shape, the presence and/or distribution of phases, the inclusionary state. It is also possible to observe:

• Presence of heat treatments (superficial or massive)
• Direction of any plastic deformation lines
• Measurement of coating thicknesses
• Presence of metallurgical anomalies within the material analysed.

HOW THE ANALYSIS IS CARRIED OUT

This type of analysis involves meticulous sample preparation phases targeted to the type of material and investigation to be carried out, from cutting to polishing up to the chemical attack of the sample and high metallurgical skills.

After the preparation of the test carried out at our accredited and highly equipped laboratory, we proceed to analyze with scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS).

The laboratory’s expertise is oriented, among other things, to the diagnosis of sagging and corrosive phenomena (failure analysis) possible thanks to the experience of specialized personnel who do not simply perform “a photograph of the situation” Generated by the anomaly but addresses and analyses possible causes.