Failure/Corrosion Investigation

Failure/Corrosion investigations usually involve collation and review of associated literature and information and analysis of failure, with the ultimate aim to inform the client about the reason for failure and corrosion, possible root cause and hence potential mitigation options.

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Failures of components or systems due to corrosion can result in consequential damages and disruption leading to potentially high financial expense and loss of reputation.  With our team of experts, MCS provides failure investigation to a wide range of industries such as the building service sector, wastewater treatment plant, rail, automotive, medical, packaging and marine sectors with the main focus on metallic materials. Since MCS became part of Sandberg Group, MCS has expanded their services which now include a wide range of laboratory analysis and consultation for non-metallic materials i.e. EPDM rubber seals or PVC pipework.

 

1. Our inherited and strong expertise lies in the building service industry. MCS has vast experience in closed heating and cooling/chilled systems as well as AHU (Air Handling Unit) and heat exchangers. Domestic cold and hot water systems such as those installed in hospitals, commercial offices and private dwellings also form part of our expertise.​

2. Our other expertise lands in wastewater treatment or water treatment plants, which focuses on the laboratory investigation of oxidation rotor blades, water quality and various metallic equipment in the plants.​

3. We provide failure investigation of network railway system components such as metallic tracks, rail wheels, gangways, train connections, electronic systems and other parts.​

4. We provide corrosion investigations of automobile metallic components such as alloy wheels, metal bodies and other parts.​

5. We provide corrosion investigations of water systems in ships, super yachts and other marine applications.

6. We provide corrosion investigations of high-temperature ductwork systems in crematorium sectors.

7. We provide corrosion investigations of metal packaging material to ensure safety and increase the longevity of metal packaging products.

8. We provide corrosion investigations to ensure the integrity of medical equipment when it is implemented in clinics or hospitals.

9. We provide corrosion investigations of steel structures used within concrete buildings.

10. We provide corrosion investigations of cable suspension or cable trunking systems in buildings.

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Laboratory investigation of samples often involves examination under high-quality optical microscopes, metallographic inspection and surface analysis involving XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) or SEM/EDX (Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis). We also have access to XRD (X-ray Diffraction), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma), XRD (X-ray Diffraction), material tensile and hardness testing. 

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To support failure investigations, a site visit can be called for. MCS often attend sites to carry out a general site survey with a focus on corrosion risks, often including sampling, examination of in-situ items for type and extent of corrosion using adequate tools where localised corrosion occurred and photography. Specifically, for the building services MCS can carry out inspection of the installation, water sampling, dissolved oxygen, pressure, temperature and flow measurements to identify and hence eliminate possible risks of corrosion to the system.

 

MCS can also carry out assessments of the extent of internal corrosion damage through endoscope surveys by using an in-house advanced high-resolution camera.

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