Equipment:

With a power of magnification up to 100,000 times, this high tech equipment is used mainly in fracture examinations, failure analysis investigations, forensic engineering, etc. A multitude of other applications can be achieved with this instrument, which makes it the professionals first choice in many fields of science and technology. A variety of detectors and other auxiliary equipments are attached to the instrument increasing its capabilities. All types of samples can be examined: metallic alloys, plastics, composites, glass, ceramics, etc.

Used in combination with the Scanning Electron Microscope, the spectroscope analyzes chemical composition of the sample. This type of instrumentation is standard in forensic laboratories where particles invisible to the naked eye are analyzed. The nature of various fibers and whiskers could also be determined, as well as the nature of the metallic residues found in the gearbox oil and hydraulic fluids.

The laboratory has a centralized Image Analysis Center that acquires images from various Optical and Electronic Microscopes and process them according to the selected mathematical algorithms. Various statistical analysis tools are embedded into the software, enabling us to provide the client with the most appropriate reporting data formats.

FALCONMET Laboratories have a number of optical microscopes used for the examination of microstructures with magnifications up to 2,000 times. The microscopes are equipped with a variety of objectives for examination in bright field, dark field, polarized light and interference contrast (Nomarski lenses). The images obtained through the Optical Microscopes can be photographed with regular 35 mm film Camera and/or with Digital Camera.

FALCONMET Laboratories have a complete facility for metallographic sample preparation, starting with various cutting machines from the large 20 inches cut-off wheels to smaller 4 inch diamond impregnated discs. Our embedding facilities include regular hot molding presses providing metallographic molds made of Bakelite, Transoptic or conductive powders, as well as a large variety of epoxy-resin combinations used for ambient temperature mounting. Grinding and polishing is achieved either through an automated grinding/polishing line or through manual operations. We strive to ensure the best edge retention that allows the examination of the substrate in the immediate vicinity of the sample surface. We have various etching capabilities including electroetching.

The company has various types of hardness and microhardness testers that allow the Rockwell, Vickers and Knoop hardness verification. Moreover, we have also various hardness testers for plastic, rubber and other non- metallic materials, as well as portable hardness testers.

This equipment is used to test the strength of various materials under controlled stress conditions and for prolonged periods of times. The apparatus is equipped with a calibrated load cell allowing the application of loads as high as 15,000 lb. Depending of their cross section, the samples can be exposed to stresses as high as 300,000 psi.