SURFACE ANALYSIS FOR TECHNICAL SAFETY
WHAT INFLUENCE DO SURFACES HAVE ON TECHNICAL SAFETY
Our surface experts support the assessment of product safety. Surface imperfections play a major role in service life behavior and corrosion resistance.
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE SERVICE LIFE OF COMPONENTS
Surface analysis for fatigue tests. The quality of the surface plays a decisive role here. Imperfections that result in notch effects and therefore crack initiation can be detected very quickly here.
TARGETED OPTIMIZATION OF PROCESS STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PHASE
Targeted use of damage analysis methods in the surface development process. Targeted examination of the quality or irregularities of development samples. Deliberate loading of surfaces beyond the specification limits with subsequent assessment.
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CORROSION RESISTANCE
Performance and evaluation of standardized or customer-specific tests (e.g. salt spray chambers, Kesternich chambers, climate change test, UV stability, condensation water test ...). Correct assessment of the different types of corrosion, in order to take appropriate measures together.
OUR STRENGTHS IN THE AREA OF SURFACES
Experts for aluminum surfaces – Technology service provider
The development of innovative aluminum surfaces in our own test electroplating facility is particularly important for technical safety issues:
- Functional surfaces (e.g. SolGel coating, Anti Finger Print….)
- Wear-resistant properties due to hard or sulphuric acid anodization
- Optimized corrosion protection for aggressive environmental requirements (barrier layer anodization)
Materials scientist with many years of industry experience
The analysis and validation of surfaces with our own metallography and corrosion laboratory, testing laboratory, chemistry and polymer laboratory
- Validation of surfaces using environmental simulations
- Circumferential bending tests
- Damage analysis (possible causes: fatigue corrosion)
Analysis of paint systems (structure, infiltration, composition) …..
APPLICATION EXAMPLES FOR THE INFLUENCE OF THE SURFACE
- Targeted anodic corrosion protection
- with additional optimal priming of coating systems such as SolGel, e.g. aluminium façades
- Barrier coat anodization for components subject to high levels of corrosion
- Wear-resistant properties
- Different anodizing processes, such as hard or sulphuric acid anodizing, significantly improve the wear behaviour of aluminium surfaces during operation with corresponding design-related contacts.
- Sensitivity analyses for a stable series process.
- Simulation of carryover, dilution and by-products that can occur in the electroplating series process
- Development / testing / introduction such as a borate-free degreasing agent for an aluminum strip treatment plant. This is done by monitoring bath parameters such as removal rate, free hydroxide, pH value and conductivity.
- Failure analyses / Failure causes
- One serious cause is the infiltration of paint systems that are exposed to corrosion, for example. The surfaces with the corresponding paints can be specifically examined for the weak points in the coating structure for a sustainable solution to the problem
- One example is the contamination (ZrO2) on the aluminum surface in the customer process. By adjusting the process to find the cause under optimum laboratory conditions, a very targeted approach can be taken. By comparing the defective component with the SEM/EDX, the causes can be quickly narrowed down.
DO YOU FINISH YOUR SURFACES YOURSELF?
If you refine surfaces yourself and need support in development or optimization, then take a look at our Aluminium Surfaces section. The combination of experienced independent experts, test electroplating, coating laboratory, environmental simulation laboratory, chemical and physical analysis is unique in this form in Switzerland.
