The Use of Positive Material Identification in Materials Testing

Based in Idaho, Mark Ficek guides Metals Testing Services and offers a full array of solutions that include radiographic and ultrasonic inspection. Mark Ficek’s firm is also experienced in positive material identification (PMI) techniques that help identify a metal or alloy’s chemical composition.

One common application of this technology involves determining what grade a particular stainless steel is. This is typically defined by the relative amount of iron, nickel, chromium, copper, and molybdenum within the metal. The makeup of the steel can have a profound impact on material performance, with some grades magnetic and some nonmagnetic. Even among grades with extremely similar properties, the reaction of the stainless steel to elements such as elevated temperature and corrosive chemicals can be markedly different. This makes it critical to fully understand the exact nature of the material, given a specific application. 

When it comes to alloys, a common PMI approach involves the use of a portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer. Testing is particularly important in industries such as oil and gas refining, where process safety management protocol requires fully understanding reactions between the equipment materials used and extremely hazardous and volatile chemicals.

Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex

A business leader focused on the nondestructive testing industry, Mark Ficek serves as the president of Metals Testing Services, which he has led for over 15 years. Outside of work, Mark Ficek enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking. In the past, he has hiked through several notable areas, including the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. 

Located in Montana, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex is a congressionally designated wilderness area that comprises the Bob Marshall Wilderness as well as the Great Bear Wilderness and the Scapegoat Wilderness. Together, the three areas encompass over 1.5 million acres and make up the third-largest designated wilderness area in the lower 48 states. 

The Bob Marshall Wilderness was created through the Wilderness Act of 1964, but much of the land was previously protected in the early 1940s. The area is named after Wilderness Society co-founder Bob Marshall, a forester and early leader in wilderness preservation credited with single-handedly protecting more than five million acres of wildlands. 

Within the wilderness area, visitors can explore one of the most completely preserved mountain ecosystems. The area's varied terrain is home to a wide range wildlife, including elk, deer, lynx, bear, wolves, and dozens of bird species.

Glacier National Park's Highline Trail

Mark Ficek is the president of Northwest-based company, Metals Testing Services, a business he has guided since 2002. An avid outdoorsman, Mark Ficek once spent a year exploring Bob Marshall, Yellowstone, and Glacier national parks. 

Hikers headed to Glacier National Park will not be disappointed, unless it’s by the fact that they don’t have more time to explore its many trails. One of the most notable is the Highline Trail, which runs 11.8 miles and affords stunning views and alpine meadows. 

The trek begins from the north side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road at Logan Pass and follows the continental divide, also known at this point as the Garden Wall. Approximately one quarter of a mile in hikers will confront a famous ledge that can be a challenge for those afraid of heights, as it is only six to eight feet in width. About 2.5 miles out, hikers will tackle the only major climb up to Haystack Pass, which is at an altitude of 7,024 feet and offers a great panoramic view, making it an ideal lunch-break stop. 

After ascending to the highest point at 7,280 feet, hikers begin descending toward Granite Park. Soon they will encounter the Granite Park Chalet, where they can spend the night or buy some food or water before continuing on toward the gorgeous 8,987-foot Heavens Peak while traversing fields of wildflowers. At 11.2 miles, hikers reach the bottom of the descent at Packers Roost Trail junction, and from here the trailhead is just over half a mile away.