Metallurgical engineering involves studying the physical and chemical behaviour of metal alloys, a mixture of metallic and non-metallic elements. Consequently, assessing metallurgical failures becomes a complex process. Nevertheless, analyzing metallurgical failures is critical in determining the physical root cause of problems with metal alloys.

With Arbitech, you can remain confident that our forensic engineers have decades of observational and inspection experience in metallurgy. Through non-destructive physical testing and inspection and various laboratory techniques, they can establish evidence-based failure mechanisms and determine the root cause of failure of metal alloys. Furthermore, having extensive project experience in the claims arena, our forensic engineers can present their findings in Courtroom-ready documents and expert reports.

Our forensic engineering team can also help you find defects in materials and workmanship, inspect and test prototype and R&D products, assess the conformance or non-conformance of metal alloys with the OBC, CSA, ASTM, ASME, API, ISO, ANSI, and other Codes and Standards, and test and analyze metal alloys for:

• electrochemical, graphitic, intergranular, and microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC);
• metal fracture, fatigue, stress and strain, hydrogen-embrittlement, cavitation damage, creep, wear, design, heat treatments and mechanical properties, and;
• metal microstructure, carbon content, nitriding, residual stresses, shrinkage voids, spalling, toughness, tension and yield strengths, alloy-sensitization, and weld heat-affected zones.

In addition, our forensic engineers can also help you assess the chemical and physical properties and condition of metal alloys, their composition, and thickness through:

• bend, ductility and Charpy impact testing;
• dye penetrant and MPI non-destructive examination and inspection;
• stereoscopic, metallurgical, and scanning electron photo-microscopy;
• ICP, EDS, XRD and XRF chemical analysis, and;
• Brinell, Micro/Macro Vickers, Knoop and Rockwell Hardness testing.

Despite their mechanical reliability and ever-increasing utilization and roles, the investigation of modern and novel materials like polymers, ceramics, and composites can offer forensic engineers distinct sets of problems and challenges. The vulnerabilities and causes of failure of non-metallic materials remain varied and unique to each material, must be examined and interpreted with care and expertise, and involves investigating and measuring each material’s properties to determine the cause(s) of the problems.

With Arbitech, you can remain confident that our forensic engineers are specialized in investigating the broad failure modes that polymers, ceramics, and composites offer. In addition to having access to various laboratory techniques to determine the root cause(s) of non-metallic material failure, our forensic engineering team can assist you with documenting evidence and providing Courtroom-ready expert reports.