MISTRAS is a trusted provider of non-destructive testing (NDT), destructive testing (DT), and metallography in our state-of-the-art in-house lab testing centers.
Precision, reliability, and accuracy are essential requirements for newly-manufactured and in-service components. Supporting clients in the aerospace, automotive, and other manufacturing industries, MISTRAS helps our customers optimize production by minimizing flaws and discontinuities in a variety of metal and alloy components, including but not limited to:
- Aluminum
- Beryllium
- Cobalt
- Copper
- Iron
- Low Alloy Steels
- Magnesium
- Nickel
- Stainless Steels
- Titanium
Metal and alloy components are numerous and diverse, produced with a variety of different processes and requiring different verification methods. No matter the type or material, each component must be up to industry standards and regulation.
MISTRAS is certified by industry organizations and by some of the largest prime manufacturers in the world to perform inspection, testing, and cleaning on components of complex geometries, varying in both size and material.
We offer these services on an individual basis, and as part of recurring component inspection and testing programs.
High-Quality Services to Prolong Component Lifetimes
Many of the metal and alloy components that MISTRAS certifies will eventually operate under extreme stress. Aerospace and automotive components operate in high-temperature, high-velocity conditions, which can lead to corrosion, cracking, and other flaws that can potentially cause serious consequences.
MISTRAS’ talented lab technicians can perform multiple inspection, cleaning, and preparation services to test for and ensure a wide range of variables, including coating and material thickness, bond quality, porosity, inclusion, along with observing reactions to challenging conditions, including exposure to a range of temperature, humidity, and vibration.
Our component inspection, testing, cleaning, and finishing services include:
Our component testing and inspection services are designed to mirror the extreme conditions under which your components operate, to ensure that they will operate reliably and predictably post-assembly. These services, along with our chemical analysis lab testing, also provide a wealth of information on your component’s material composition.
Finishing services help to add a layer of corrosion- and wear-resistance to components to prolong their operational lifetimes.
With proper inspection and preparation, componentry defects can be detected and prevented before they lead to costly and hazardous failure, promoting equipment health and maximizing return with safe operation. MISTRAS component services emphasize quality and accuracy to ensure the integrity of all your critical parts.
Microstructural Analysis
Microstructural Analysis analyzes the structure of a metal alloy and determines if structural parameters are within specifications. Samples are typically polished and microscopically examined. The analysis determines how the material will perform while in commercial use and how it will respond to processing factors like heat, forming, or welding.
MISTRAS helps to ensure that materials are known for their performance in various situations. Microstructural Analysis creates degradation in samples for an accurate view into compositional strength.
Alpha and Beta Phase
In titanium processing, pure titanium atoms align in a solid state in an alpha or beta phase. Alpha is comprised of tightly-packed crystalline structure while beta describes a cubic structure. Pure metals change from alpha to beta when exposed to extremely high temperature, while alloys stabilize to alpha in high temperatures and stabilize to the beta phase in cooler temperatures. Alpha and beta alloys are used for different purposes and have different strength benefits when used in the field.
Alpha-Case on Titanium
When titanium and titanium alloys are introduced to heated oxygen, the alpha-case forms, which is a hard, cracked, oxygen-enriched surface phase. The surface cracks reduce performance efficiency of the metal, which negatively impact componentry and assets.
Layer Thickness Measurement
Layer Thickness Measurement is a non-contact testing method that scans through a material's insulating later to determine thickness. Technicians utilize eddy current testing (ET) to non-destructively determine the distance to the layer below with multiple sensors.
Replica Technique
A Replica Technique makes an impression of the surface of a sample that is too thick or large for microscopic examination. Most commonly utilized for steel and crack detection, this technique allows the microstructure to be examined with an inverted topography image.
Non-Metallic Inclusion Content
Non-metallic inclusions negatively affect steel surfaces and mechanical properties like formability and toughness. Macroscopic and microscopic testing methods evaluate non-metallic inclusions in materials and mitigate them to help ensure asset integrity.
