Surface Contamination Testing

Surface contaminants are the impurities that bond or settle on the surface of metal and affect the physical and chemical properties of the metal. These impurities can come from a wide range of sources including oils from equipment, residues from human hands, smudges and streaks from manufacturing processes and corrosion from leaks of water, coolants and more. Contaminants also can be found on the coating surface and affect the adhesion and protective features of the coating.

Examples of Metal Surface Contamination Testing

• Detect surface contaminants of metal parts before laser welding.
• Detect surface contaminants of pistons for hydraulic pumps before hardening.
• Detect surface contaminants of stainless-steel pipes and gear case parts before coating.
• Detect residual agents and encapsulation material on bond pads before bonding.
• Detect surface contaminants of metal parts after machining.
• Detect surface contaminants of electrical contacts after stripping of isolation material.
• Inspect functional surfaces after selective cleaning (laser cleaning, ultra-fine plasma cleaning, CO2 snow blasting, etc.).
• Detect surface contaminants of automotive crank shafts, pistons, cam shafts and con-rods after cleaning.
• Detect fluxing agent residues on gold bond pads on ceramic substrates.
• Detect surface contaminants of sealing groove in aluminum die cast housings for engine control units (ECU), automated driving control unit, power electronics for e-mobility, & pumps.

STEMart uses a variety of testing method to uncover what part of the manufacturing process is compromising the cleanliness of the metals.

Test Methods

• TOC (Total Organic Carbon) Analysis: Examination of extracts for residual organic materials such as oils, cleaning agents, lubricants, etc.
• FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) Analysis: Identification of organic materials such as oils, cleaning agents, plastic particulates, and packaging residue extracted from sample surfaces and internal passages
• ICP Chemical Analysis: Identification of elemental contaminants in extracts, such as residual iron from tooling during cutting, as well as providing a thorough breakdown of metallic particulates.
• IC (Ion Chromatography): Identification in an aqueous solution
• SEM-EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy / Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis): High magnification examination and characterization of particulate and other debris removed during extraction procedures.

For more information about our surface contamination testing service, please contact us.