Contaminant Investigations

Contaminants encompass a wide range of deposits, particulate, wear debris and discoloration. Metallurgical Associates provides extensive experience and the latest analytical technology to identify the cause and source of contaminants. The impact of contaminants varies widely, from rejection of components for reasons of cosmetic appearance to catastrophic failure from premature wear.

The critical elements of contaminant analysis are:

  1. Identification of the contaminant (what is it?).
  2. Identification of the contaminants source (where did it originate?).
  3. Practical, cost-effective, recommendations to prevent future contamination.

MAI Engineers utilize Metallography, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to perform contaminant analyses that provide the answers to these critical questions.