Chemical Analysis

What it determines

Chemical analysis establishes the exact composition of a material: the foundation for verifying an alloy grade, confirming a specification, or supporting a failure investigation. We select the technique to match the sample and the question, from full bulk composition to the chemistry of a single microscopic feature.

Methods available

• Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES): precise elemental composition of metallic alloys.
• LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy): rapid elemental analysis with minimal sample impact.
• LECO combustion: dedicated determination of carbon and sulfur (C/S).
• X-ray Fluorescence (XRF): non-destructive elemental identification.
• Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), attached to the SEM, for bulk and micro chemical analysis.

Micro-scale capability

Because our EDS is integrated with scanning electron microscopy, we can pinpoint the composition of inclusions, deposits, and localized features rather than only reporting a bulk average. The system uses an advanced SDD EDS detector that provides roughly ten times more counts than a traditional liquid-nitrogen-cooled Si(Li) detector, enabling faster and more detailed X-ray mapping.

How it supports your work

Across every technique, the goal is precise material identification that feeds directly into our broader materials testing and failure analysis work, confirming that the right material was supplied and installed, and explaining the chemistry behind a problem when it was not.