Metal Fracture and Metallurgical Failure Analysis Laboratories
Metallurgical failure analysis examines fracture surfaces, microstructure, hardness and composition to distinguish fatigue, overload, corrosion, hydrogen damage, creep and processing defects. This guide helps you decide what to preserve, what to send and what to agree with the laboratory before anything is cut.
What does it measure?
- Fracture origin and morphology
- Microstructure and phase condition
- Grain size, inclusions and decarburisation
- Composition versus the material specification
- Hardness and case depth
When is it used?
- Fractured shafts, fasteners, springs, welds and castings
- Heat treatment disputes with a supplier
- Weld cracking investigations
- Incoming material non-conformance
- Warranty or insurance claims that need an independent root-cause statement
Sample considerations
- Protect fracture surfaces from handling, cleaning, re-mating and moisture; do not fit the halves back together.
- Send the material specification, drawing, heat treatment requirement and any supplier certificates.
- Describe the service history: loads, temperatures, environment, hours or cycles, and events before failure.
- Include an unfailed part from the same batch where available.
- Agree a sectioning plan with the laboratory before any cutting.
Questions to ask a laboratory
- Which examinations will be performed before destructive sectioning?
- Do you perform fractography by SEM in-house, and is chemical analysis in scope?
- Will you compare results against our specification, and who supplies the acceptance criteria?
- Can the report support a supplier dispute or legal claim, and is chain of custody required?
- What happens to the remaining material after analysis?
Laboratories with relevant capabilities
- Metallurgical Technologies (Mooresville, NC) — Failure Analysis, Metallurgical Analysis, Mechanical Testing
- Intertek (Lake Forest, CA) — Materials Testing, Metallurgical Analysis, Chemical Analysis
- ASAMS (Great Yarmouth, Norfolk) — Failure Analysis, Metallurgical Testing, Materials Testing
- TCR Engineering Services (Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra) — Failure Analysis, Materials Testing, Non-Destructive Testing
- Element Materials Technology (Aberdeen, Scotland) — Materials Testing, Mechanical Testing, Metallurgical Analysis
- Applied Technical Services (Marietta, GA) — NDT/NDE, Metallurgical Analysis, Materials Testing
Frequently asked questions
- Can microstructure show whether a part was heat treated correctly?
- Often yes. Metallography combined with hardness measurement can indicate whether the observed microstructure is consistent with the specified heat treatment.
- Should I clean a fracture before sending it?
- No. Deposits and corrosion products are evidence. Keep the surface dry and protected, and let the laboratory decide on any cleaning.
Confirm standard edition, jurisdiction and actual laboratory scope. Service references are not partnerships or endorsements.