In the RMS Foundation the following methods of analyses of metallic, ceramic or polymere materials are at your disposal. Some services have been accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025 (identified by *).
X-ray fluorescence analyses of metallic and non-metallic materials*
The qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence analyses (RFA) serve to determine the composition of metallic and non-metallic materials according to the classification of elements from sodium to uranium.
Device: BRUKER S4 EXPLORER X-ray fluorescence spectrometer
Energy dispersive microanalysis
In the qualitative analysis of the surface of solid or powdery materials, the energy dispersive spectroscopy by X-rays (EDX) on the electron microscope is used to identify the elements from beryllium to uranium contained in the sample surface. The quantitative analyses allow determining the content of selected elements.
Device: ISIS-300 Microanalysis system with a Li(Si) detector with super atmospheric thin window
UV-VIS spectroscopy
The UV-VIS spectroscopy serves to determine the metal ions and the anions in metallic or non-metallic samples after the extraction in a solution. The ultraviolet (UV) and visible (VIS) light stimulates the characteristic electron migrations in the molecules, and causes the absorption strength to correlate with the concentration of the (coloured) material of the solution (absorption bands occur due to the electron stimulation in an appropriate wavelength).
Device: UV-VIS Lamda 10 photometer
Infrared spectroscopy
The qualitative infrared spectroscopy (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy FTIR) serves to identify chemical substances, polymers, bonding agents, etc., and the quantitative infrared spectroscopy determines the material compositions, the purity, etc.
Device: Perkin Elmer PARAGON 1000 FTIR spectrometer
Determination of carbon and sulphur content in metallic materials*
Is used to determine the total carbon and sulphur content of iron and steel specimens.
Device: LECO CS 230 carbon and sulphur determination device
Corrosion measurements
Is used to determine the basic material’s corrosion properties or the local corrosion properties of real surfaces of metallic materials. After the preparation of the sample, the corrosion properties of the basic material are measured in a corrosion-measuring cell, which can also be operated without oxygen. The local corrosion properties are determined using the EC-pen. The EC-pen provides an easy and rapid way to determine the corrosion properties of real surfaces (pen tip: A = 1.5 mm2).
Device: EC-pen with Jaissle potentiostat / Corrosion measuring cell with PGP201 potentiostat