XPS or ESCA:
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Characterize anodized surfaces of aluminum alloys
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Characterize primers on aluminum alloys
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Determine cause of adhesive bond failure to anodized aluminum alloy surfaces
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Identify elemental/chemical cause of problems with gold-coated Kovar hermetic packages for satellite and aerospace applications
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Identify Au-Sn solder bonding problems for electronics hermetic packages
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Identify cause of bonding problems to glass microspheres used in thermal insulation (Space Shuttle External Fuel Tanks)
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Determine cause of bonding problems to fiberglass, Kevlar®, Carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, silicon carbide, silica, and other reinforcing materials
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Jet engine fan blade analysis
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Identify cause of plating problems
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Identify cause of coating or phosphate treatment problems
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Determine identity of fill particles in filled plastics, paints, sealants, and adhesives after burn-off of resin
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Composition of surface oxide on corrosion-resistant steel
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Gold-nickel and silver brazing problem analysis
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Measure contamination on metal surfaces
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Determine cleanliness of surface after using paint or oxide removers
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Determine products of corrosion due to aircraft maintenance chemicals to identify the chemical causing the corrosion
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Determine identity of composite material fibers or fill particles after burn-off of resin
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Evaluate polyimide coatings on water dies
Thermal Analysis:
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DMA:
- Measure the glass transition temperature of sheet plastics and composite materials
- Measure the storage modulus and viscoelastic properties of sheet plastic and composite materials as a function of temperature
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TMA:
- Measure the coefficient of thermal expansion (cte) of plastic and composite materials in plate, sheet, rod, tubing, film and fiber forms
- Determine relative degrees of crystalline phase in polymer materials
- Determine the glass transition temperature of plastics and composite materials
- Determine the softening temperature for various applied pressures
- Measure the melting temperature of plastics, sealants, rubbers, and adhesives
- Measure swelling of polymers due to exposure to liquids, such as fuels, oils, and plasticizers
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DSC:
- Determine the glass transition temperature of powder resins
- Determine the degree of cure of epoxy adhesives and paints
- Measure the melting temperature of plastics and low-melting point metals
- Measure the temperature and energy-output of intermetallic formation
- Measure heat absorption by thermally insulating blanket materials
- Measure the temperature of phase precipitation in metal alloys
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TGA:
- Measure the decomposition or combustion of materials as a function of temperature
- Measure the weigh of fill materials in filled plastics, paints, adhesives, sealants, thermal conductive compounds, and gaskets
- Measure VOC of paints, adhesives, and sealants
- Measure the weight of fiberglass or other fiber materials in FRP materials
- Measure the resin content in PCB materials
- Measure the component weights of honeycomb core materials, such as:
- Aramide / phenolic,
- Glass / poymide,
- Glass / phenolic, and
- Polyamide / phenolic;
- Examine the decomposition of materials when heated in air, such as tape, webbing, cord, braid, cloth, fabric, roving, fiber, tow, yarn, felt, sheet, insulation, polyamide PCB, and grease
- Measure weight loss due to outgassing
- Measure water uptake in materials
Electrochemistry:
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Measure the corrosion rates in various solutions for metals
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Measure pitting potentials for metals
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Determine susceptibility for crevice corrosion
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Measure the corrosion potential
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Determine the passivation behavior
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Determine the galvanic corrosion behavior of dissimilar metal pairs
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Determine the corrosion resistance of anodized aluminum
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Evaluate the corrosion prevention effectiveness of:
- Paints,
- Primers,
- Enamels,
- Aluminum coatings,
- Varnishes,
- Phenolic resins,
- Fluorocarbon films, and
- Urethane coaitings;
Microscopy (Optical and SEM):
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Microstructural surface defect observation
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Acrylic window crazing examination
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Location and type of adhesive bond failure
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Location and type of paint peeling failure
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Metallographic inspection of cross-sectioned and polished fasteners
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