Metal Particle Testing Lab

Very small metal particles are submitted to our laboratory for metal particle chemical testing to prevent particles initiating during wear and abrasion conditions from contaminating critical components. These industries have very strict particle contamination requirements that identify the rejection criteria for any identified particles.

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Industries That Test For Metal Particle Contamination

Food Processing
- Metal Detectors During Processing
Medical Equipment
Automotive Fuel Injection Manufacturing
Corrosion Residue Particles
Engine Oil
Water Treatment Systems

At ASAP Metal Testing we also have a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The SEM laboratory is a very important reverse engineering technique for particle identification in the food processing/manufacturing industries. All food belts prior to packaging run their food products through metal detectors. Small particles from their packaging such as canning or any blades used for cutting exhibit wear over time. There are three goals for metal particle identification;

Identify the metal particle chemical alloy
Locate the upstream component that is exhibiting wear and producing contamination particles
Replace the worn component to prevent additional contamination.

Many particles submitted for analysis appear the same without proper magnification. On the SEM the metal particles may exhibit different appearances, suggesting multiple sources of wear and contamination. The particles require individual evaluation since their source appear from multiple wear items.

In a proactive quality scheme where the manufacturer anticipates contamination from wear. All upstream wear components are identified by chemical testing. The resulting EDS spectrum from the unknown particle analysis is compared against the known file of upstream components for identification and replacement.

At ASAP Metal Testing we provide help to all manufacturing industries and materials. Even the glass industry uses metal components for that can wear and require identification of contamination particles.