Surface analysis

Definition/objectives:

The surface is the place of interactions between a material and its environment. Surface treatments or coatings are very often applied to materials to protect them (corrosion, scratch, biofilm ...), to modify their appearance (transparency, aesthetics ...) or to give them specific properties (hydrophobicity, anti-fouling, electrostatic, ...). The analysis of their properties and integrity is therefore essential.

Performance measurement (standards and equipment tests)

SEM-EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray detector),

Mechanical profilometry (Dektak) and optical profilometer (NJHP 105) with Nobis optical head,

Analysis of surface chemical composition - identification of different layers

Verification of the presence and integrity of a surface treatment / coating

Surface cleanliness and pollution and validation of the industrial surface cleaning process

Surface wettability / surface energy

Morphological study and surface topography, measurement of roughness profiles Ra, Rt, Rz

Oxygen permeability

Analysis of corrosion products

Analysis of cleaning residues, analysis of organic and inorganic contaminants, in the form of particles or films

Research of causes related to the problem of gluing or adhesion of coating (paint, varnish, surface treatment)