Failure Analysis and Metallurgical Engineering Laboratories
The Materials Engineering Group has a diverse range of interests covering many topics within the field of Materials, including ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, fracture and failure mechanisms, ceramics, polymers and composites. We have a history of providing research, failure analysis and testing to New Zealand Industry.
We realize that Industry needs quick results - and we are prepared to complete analyses in as little as 24 hours.
The Group
- Milo V Kral BSc(Eng), MSc(Eng), PhD (Vanderbilt)
- Mark Staiger BE, PhD (Monash)
- Mike Flaws NZCS, BSc, DipMgmt, Senior Technical Officer.
- Kevin Stobbs HNC(Metallurgy), Technical Officer
The Laboratory
Leica and Olympus light microscopes with digital imaging- JEOL Scanning Electron Microscope
- Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy
- Hitachi Transmission Electron Microscope
- Rockwell Hardness Tester
- LECO Microhardness Tester
- Heat treatment facilities
- MTS tensile testing machine
Contact Information
Phone: +64 (3) 3 364 2596
Emails:milo.kral@canterbury.ac.nz, mark.staiger@canterbury.ac.nz
Failure Analysis Consultation
The Materials Group's team of engineers and technicians combines design, industrial process and material testing experience to accurately determine the root cause of product and process problems. Whatever the material, chances are we've tested it and understand its properties.
Aerospace Materials - Automotive Materials - Aluminum - Brasses - Carbon Steels - Castings - Coatings - Composites - Corrosion Resistant Steels - CVD and PVD Coatings - Elastomers - Electronic Components - Plating - Polymers - Powder Metals - Tool Steels.
The list below shows that The Materials Group can go well beyond physical testing. We test the total environment and condition of metal parts and sub assemblies and have the equipment and the expertise to move to the microstructure level to complete the analysis process.
- Chemical Verification
- Coating Thickness and Composition
Contamination- Corrosion Analysis
- Fiber Identification
- Fractography
- Macro Etching
- Mechanical Testing
- Microstructure Evaluation
- Non-destructive inspection
- Photo Documentation
- Physical Testing
- Quality control
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)- Weld Evaluation
Examples of Recent Cases
- Investigation of Weld Microstructures in Aluminum Lithium Alloys.
- Failure of engine exhaust manifolds for Motor Homes.
- Materials Selection for River Lock Gate Applications.
- Analysis of Cracked Welded Assembly.
- Analysis of Fractured Hydraulic Shaft.
Investigation of Fire Damage.- Dimensional Analysis of Printed Circuit Boards.
- Failure Analysis of a Fractured Spring.
- Feasibility Study for Rotor Molded Polyethylene.
- Microstructural Analysis of Heat Resistant Materials.
- Analysis of a Joining Tool.
- Analysis of printed circuit board copper plating thickness.
- Analysis of Enamel, Solder, Electroplated and Hot Dip Galvanized coatings.
- Defects in Aluminum Castings.
- Environmental Stress Cracking in Polycarbonate