RTS - Rexnord
Technical Services
5101 West Beloit Road
Milwaukee, WI 53214

Phone:
(414) 643-3067

Phone Toll Free:
(800) 488-9078

Fax:
(414) 643-3200

E-mail:

MATERIALS ENGINEERING

of Metals, Plastics and Composites plus Failure Analysis:

FAILURE ANALYSIS:

Examination of failed components can directly lead to corrective actions. Correlation of observations on appearance, composition and strength can point to the cause and often, point to a cure. Determining the root cause of a product failure or component failure also requires a review of design and manufacturing history and of the operating conditions and service environment.


Metal stamping punch failure mode was fatigue (right photo), which initiated from engraving marks (arrow).

Information obtained in a failure analysis includes some or all of the following:

Primary failure mode(s) and major contributing factors identified (fatigue, corrosion, embrittlement, ultimate strength and
Macro and micro photographic documentation of component condition.
SEM-EDS - Scanning Election Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS analysis) available.
Correlation of observations on failed component with design, manufacturing, processing, application and service conditions.
Recommendations to avoid repeat failure and product remediation.
Litigation support and expert witness services.
Our goal is to help you identify and correct the root cause of the problem.

RTS has extensive experience in analyzing chain, bearings, shafts, couplings, gears, boiler tubes, agricultural knives, hard faced coatings and many other industrial components.


Arrows indicate slag/sand inclusions in a cast component which greatly decreased tooling life.

Non Uniform Gear Tooth Wear	Fluting pattern caused by electric arcing erosion, due to stray currents, in the outer race of a wind generator bearing.

SERVICE CONDITION ANALYSIS

Service, operating conditions, design and manufacturing history evaluation.
Correlation of observations on failed components with service conditions, materials specifications and theoretical or measured loadings.
Laboratory or field load determination and stress measurements as required.

METALLIC MATERIALS ENGINEERING CAPABILITY:

Materials issues often dominate product development efforts and can make the difference between commercial success or failure. RTS determines material composition, macro and microstructure, hardness distribution, mechanical properties, resistance to corrosion, salt, humidity, environmental exposure and abrasives. This information can be used to infer prior processing, weld quality, coating stability, etc.

Microstructural examination of metals with particular focus on heat treatment analysis of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys.
Mechanical and material property determination including: Fatigue and fracture testing, ultimate, yield and flexural strength, impact strength and corrosion resistance of components.
Material performance in controlled environments including temperature extremes, humidity, salt spray immersion, abrasion and corrosion.
Macro and microhardness evaluation using Rockwell, Brinell, Knoop and Vickers Diamond Pyramid scales.
Portable Hardness testing.
Weld quality evaluation and testing.
Hardfacing and coating evaluation.
Boiler tube analysis.
Chemical analysis including spectrographic analysis of steels, polymer, characterization and analysis of contaminants and debris.

POLYMER & COMPOSITES ENGINEERING:

Behaviors of polymeric, elastomeric and composite products are governed by processing and composition. RTS uses FTIR, DSC, TGA, TMA, Melt Index, Viscometer, etc., to determine material composition and composition-related properties. Stereo and transmission microscopy are used to evaluate structural properties, while mechanical testing evaluates strength and ductility.

MATERIALS QA/QC:

Consistency in a product's performance starts with consistent materials. RTS uses all of the evaluation tools in the laboratory to quantify performance on a timely basis. Programs have included evaluations of raw materials for motorcycle sidebags, motor boat, gears, agriculture knives, laminates, chain sidebars, elastomeric couplings, and fire pumps.

MECHANICAL TESTING:

Determination of strength, ductility and toughness for both metallic or plastic materials is done to ASTM, SAE or ISO standards. Test modes include tension, compression, flexural, torsional, impact, 3 or 4-point bending on standard samples or specialized materials. Equipment capabilities include: 25 lb to 300,000 lb tension/compression testers, drop weight, and extensive sample preparation facilities.

RTS - Rexnord
Technical Services
5101 West Beloit Road
Milwaukee, WI 53214

E-mail:

Phone: (414) 643-3067

Phone Toll Free: (800) 488-9078

Fax: (414) 643-3200