Material Characterization
Microscopy, SEM with EDS, XRD and related techniques that reveal a material’s structure and composition.
Surface & Corrosion Testing
Contact angle, surface roughness, wear and corrosion tests that describe how a surface performs in service.
Many failures begin at the surface. These tests measure surface texture and wetting, and how a material stands up to friction and corrosive environments.
What the Test Evaluates
- Wettability: how a liquid spreads on a surface (contact angle)
- Surface roughness
- Wear and friction behaviour at room and elevated temperature
- Corrosion rate and resistance in a given environment
- Susceptibility to stress corrosion
Why It Matters
Coatings, seals, bearings and exposed structures all depend on surface behaviour. Measuring it helps select materials and treatments and predict service life.
Common Applications
- Evaluation of coatings and surface treatments
- Comparing wear resistance of materials and lubricants
- Corrosion studies of metals and alloys
- Checking surface finish after machining
Available Methods
- Wettability / contact angle measurement
- Surface roughness measurement, with or without profile graph
- Wear test at room temperature and elevated temperature
- Corrosion test
- Electrochemical corrosion test
- Stress corrosion test (ASTM G36)
- Water absorption test
- Porosity measurement
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a contact angle and why measure it?
It is the angle a liquid drop makes with a surface. A low angle means the liquid wets the surface; a high angle means it is repelled. It is used to assess coatings, cleaning and adhesion.
What does an electrochemical corrosion test show?
It uses a potentiostat to measure how a metal behaves in a chosen solution, giving values such as corrosion current and corrosion rate much faster than a long exposure test.
Related Services
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with EDS
High-magnification imaging of surfaces with elemental analysis of selected areas.
Hardness Testing
Micro Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell and Shore hardness measurements for metals and polymers.
Have a Material Testing Requirement?
Tell us about your sample and testing objective, and our team will help you decide the appropriate next step.