FAILURE ANALYSIS
Failure analysis is the method that is used to determine the root cause of failure when products, components, assets, or systems fail to meet performance expectations. The findings of a root cause failure analysis provide decision makers with the tools they need for remedial actions and preventative measures to be taken
CHEMICAL & CORROSIVITY ANALYSIS
analysis of soil samples in Water-genics soils lab and modeling for remaining life. Lab activities include:
Laboratory analysis of the soil sample collected from site.
To determine the life expectancy of water mains, it is important to analyze the soil in which they are buried in. Matergenics is unique in its approach to soil testing. We analyze 3000-4000 soil samples per year. A combination of both field and laboratory tests coupled with a specialized algorithm are able to determine the expected corrosion rate of buried assets.
A dedicated soil laboratory supported by a multidisciplinary team of NACE-certified materials and corrosion engineers is able to receive the samples taken by the field teams and quickly measure several key soil corrosivity factors including pH and chloride concentration.
In-lab tests will include the following tests for soil corrosivity assessment and evaluation of input parameters for a predictive model for corrosion rate.
- Instantaneous corrosion rate measurement (for steel) in mils per year (mpy), per ASTM G59: Standard Test Method for Conducting Potentiodynamic Polarization Resistance Measurements, and ASTM G102: Standard Practice for Calculation of Corrosion Rates and Related Information from Electrochemical Measurements. This method is unique to Matergenics and provides corrosion rate
- As received and saturated soil resistivity measurement per ASTM G187: Standard Test Method for Measurement of Soil Resistivity Using the Two-Electrode Soil Box Method
- Moisture content measurement, per ASTM D2216: Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
- Salt contaminations for the following water-soluble salts:
- Chloride, per ASTM D512: Standard Test Methods for Chloride Ion in Water
- Sulfate, per ASTM C1580: Standard Test Method for Water-Soluble Sulfate in Soil
- Sulfide, per ASTM D4658: Standard Test Method for Sulfide Ion in Water
- Soil pH measurement, per ASTM G51: Standard Test Method for Measuring pH of Soil for Use in Corrosion Testing
- Soil redox potential measurement, per ASTM G200: Standard Test Method for Measurement of Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) of Soil
Microbiological analysis for the soil sample, including:
- Acid-producing bacteria (APB).
- Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB).
- Aerobic bacteria (AERO).
- Anaerobic bacteria (ANA)
- Iron-reducing bacteria (IRB).
- Nitrate-reducing bacteria (NRB).
OUR SOIL LAB
To determine the life expectancy of water mains, it is important to analyze the soil in which they are buried in.
ON-SITE INVESTIGATION, INSPECTION, & FAILURE ANALYSIS
Team Matergenics will be at the site of water main break immediately for soil analysis, failure analysis and corrosion risk assessment due to stray current that may cause the water line break. We also design and install cathodic protection systems to protect these assets, which can add 20 years to their remaining life.
The properties of iron that could be used to detect graphitization or other localized corrosion phenomena include ductility, electrical resistivity, or acoustic properties, such as ultrasonic sound velocity or attenuation. However, assessing ductility, by nature, involves destruction of the sample. Acoustical methods cannot be used with coated pipes due to the fact that it requires surface contact with bare, clean metal.
The publication entitled “Development of a Cast Iron Graphitization Measurement Device,” NYGAS Technology Briefs, Issue 99-690-1, January 1999, discloses a meter that uses eddy currents to measure the electrical resistivity of a sample surface. Eddy current methods require sophisticated control circuitry and precisely tuned components. The eddy current device necessarily consumes a considerable amount of power to generate the RF signal that it uses to induce eddy currents in the sample.
Ultrasonic measurement of acoustic properties requires a very clean interface between the probe and the pipe for purposes of acoustic transmission and impedance matching, so that it is poorly suited for use with exposed, buried pipe which is often wet or dirty. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved non-destructive testing method and apparatus for detecting the graphitization of gray iron. The sensor development in in progress at Matergenics corrosion testing laboratories.
