Monday, April 8, 2019
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.
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