Field Metallography
Field metallography — this is our niche. We have three engineers experienced at both field metallography and failure analysis, providing the best onsite services in North America.
Shutdown Inspection
Find issues before they become problems. Field metallography replication (FMR) can be used on-site to inspect boilers, furnaces, reactors and other high temperature components for thermal degradation. Each material type degrades in different manners yet most often inspection is looking for life-limiting damage such as creep.
Crack Identification
Understanding the nature of cracking is critical for making repair and reliability decisions. Steel Image can come to site, use FMR and provide results within 24 hours as to the nature of cracking.
Retainer required for 24-hour service.
Fire Damage Surveys
Unfortunately fires happen. Yet steel is quite resilient to heat. Field metallography can be used as part of the damage survey to assess if steel vessels had sustained life-limiting damage. Although the fire damage may at appear severe, you may be pleasantly surprised by how many vessels are reusable.
Knowing the type of cracking matters for your repair decisions.
Knowing the equipment condition matters for fitness-for-service.
Let Steel Image help.
Case Studies
Cracked Welds in Ammonia Tank
Inspection of a fifty-year-old ammonia tank found numerous cracks. There was concern that other pipes and storage tanks may also have been at risk. In-situ metallography was used to determine the crack type.
Linear Indications in Heater Tube
Cracks found on a critical path heater tubes threatened to delay the scheduled start-up. In-situ metallography was used to determine the nature of the cracks. This work was completed within 24 hours.
Stress Corrosion Cracks in Heat Exchanger Channel
Penetrant inspection had found cracks on the external surface of a carbonate reboiler channel. In-situ metallography was used to determine the nature of cracking. This work was completed within 24 hours.