Alpine provides detailed failure analysis services to help customers understand why materials or components did not perform as expected in testing or in the field. We combine high-resolution inspection, advanced material characterization, and real-world service knowledge to identify the root cause of failures in elastomers, plastics, and composites.
Failure analysis may be performed on standalone components, after qualification testing, or during material development to support troubleshooting and improve product reliability. Our capabilities allow us to investigate failures resulting from material mismatches, contamination, chemical degradation, mechanical damage, thermal issues, or improper processing.
Analytical Tools for Failure Analysis
FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) is often the first step in failure analysis, providing rapid material identification and contamination detection. At Alpine, we use FTIR to determine if the material composition matches the intended specification or if contamination may have contributed to failure. For example, we have identified failed components initially believed to be elastomers but determined through FTIR to be nylon, providing immediate clarification for corrective action.
TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis) is used to quantify fillers, volatiles, and base polymer content, confirming or refuting initial FTIR findings. TGA helps determine if improper formulation, contamination, or degradation under thermal conditions contributed to a failure.
DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) complements TGA by characterizing thermal transitions such as glass transition or melting points, identifying thermal behavior changes that could lead to in-service failures.
DMA (Dynamic Mechanical Analysis) provides insight into stiffness, damping, and glass transition behavior under dynamic loading, allowing correlation of material properties to failures observed during cyclic loading or vibration in service.
Microscopy enables detailed inspection of fracture surfaces, wear patterns, and crack propagation to identify failure modes and mechanical damage. We use high-resolution imaging to document failure sites, supported by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) to detect contaminants or inclusions at or near the failure point.
Many failures are identified during or after equipment qualification testing, and our analytical testing services integrate seamlessly into these programs. If a component leaks, degrades, or fractures during qualification, it can be immediately examined using FTIR, TGA, microscopy, and LIBS to determine the cause. This accelerates the feedback loop during development, allowing material qualifications, formulations, or design choices to be refined quickly and accurately.
Alpine’s failure analysis services provide the clarity you need to understand failures, refine designs, and ensure material readiness for harsh service environments.