Material Analytics
Chemistry

Main activity

The field of competence Chemical Analysis completes all the main activities offered by the Center for Engineering Materials in service and research, where analytical and chemical-physical tests are required.

The main focus of the competence field is the quantification of the chemical composition of metallic, mineral, and organic materials as well as chemical preparations, the identification of layers, coatings, particles, the preparation of damage assessments e.g. in the field of construction, in plant engineering as well as in heating, air conditioning and sanitary installations and the monitoring of wood preservative preparations as a recognized monitoring and certification body.

In the R&D area, hydrogen analysis is a focal point of the competence field. For this purpose, an ONH-analyzer with thermodesorption mass spectrometry (TD-MS) and Yanako collector is available, which can be used to analyze not only the total hydrogen content but also the diffusible hydrogen responsible for hydrogen-induced cracking. In addition, the formation energy of the hydrogen bound to precipitates can be determined in order to make statements about the hazard potential. The method is used, among other things, to develop a method for evaluating the production- and service-related embrittlement of high-strength metallic components caused by diffusible hydrogen.

The equipment available in the chemical analysis competence area meets all the requirements placed on rapid and comprehensive modern analysis.

The fields of activity include in detail:

Inorganic and organic analysis, in particular analysis of steel and cast iron materials, copper, magnesium and aluminum alloys, hard metals and special alloys, building materials, refractory analyses, water analysis in connection with corrosion chemical investigations, chemical testing of plastics, qualitative and quantitative identification of materials, particles and coatings of unknown composition by means of conventional wet-chemical and modern instrumental analytics

Analysis of cement, lime, gypsum, concrete, masonry mortar, plaster, screed, aggregates and admixtures as well as clinker bricks, facing bricks, ceramic tiles and concrete blocks, composites, efflorescence and discoloration

Chemical and physical testing of fuels and lubricants, e.g. comparative analysis of used and unused lubricants, viscosity and flash point determinations, tensiometry, water determination by Karl Fischer titration

Testing of organic and inorganic/metallic coatings and overlays.

  • Examination of surface treatments,
  • qualitative and quantitative determination of coating composition,
  • mechanical and chemical testing of organic coatings and coating materials,
  • resistance tests by media storage

•

•

•

•

  • Wood preservative analysis for the monitoring of wood preservative manufacturing plants and processors
  • Verification of wood preservative active substances in construction and furniture woods, development of analysis regulations within the framework of the Expert Committee for Wood Preservative Analysis of the RAL Quality Association
  • Recognized monitoring and certification body for wood preservatives in accordance with the Hessian state building regulations
  • Corrosion testing of concrete reinforcement after exposure to de-icing salt or PVC fires
  • Corrosion testing in specified test media and standardized test climates
  • Corrosion resistance testing of metallic container materials to various chemicals
  • Product control of insulating materials for gas and water installations
  • Product control of printing inks and printing chemicals
  • Product control of binders and aggregates
  • Investigation of causes of corrosion in hot and cold water piping systems, heating, ventilation and industrial installations, metallic surfaces e.g. in sanitary and kitchen equipment
  • Determination of the cause of discoloration, adhesion problems and efflorescence on mineral building materials
  • PCB analysis of mineral oil products
  • Heavy metal content determination according to RoHS
  • Asbestos analysis in solid samples
  • Consultation of private persons on questions concerning residential toxins
  • Determination of total hydrogen content and diffusible hydrogen in high-strength steels.
  • Recording of hydrogen effusion profiles
  • Determination of the binding energy of hydrogen bound to precipitates.
  • Development of a method for evaluating the production-related hydrogen hazard potential of modern corrosion protection systems for high-strength steel components
  • Determination of sulfated ash in plastics
  • Determination of the degree of crosslinking of crosslinked polyethylene (PE-X)
  • Determination of plasticizer content in PVC molding compounds
  • Determination of formaldehyde release from plastic cups, cooking test and soilability
  • Determination of total carbon and sulfur content in steel and cast materials
  • Spark emission spectral analysis (FESA) of low, medium, high alloyed steel and aluminum materials
  • Identification of polymer materials by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR)
  • Coolant condition (density, refractive index, conductivity, pH value, alkali reserve)
  • Water composition (IC, ICP-OES)
  • Additive package (HPLC, ICP-OES, IC)
  • Contaminants (IC, ICP-OES)
  • Degradation and oxidation products (IC)