Characterisation Lab: damage, corrosion, and joining techniques

Are you facing a problem with your plant, process, or product? In most cases, TNO’s experts can work with you to find a solution. Our group of complementary specialists covers a wide range of expertise, enabling us to provide a practical solution or clear advice quickly.

What we will do

During an intake interview, we’ll find out if we have the right expertise to help you with your question. Our experts can come to you or you can visit one of our laboratories.

Damage assessment: What (which process or use) is actually causing the damage, and can it be solved, for example, by changing the use and/or process? It’s also possible to make a precise estimate in advance for a new process.

Corrosion testing: TNO has the proper expertise and a special process environment with specific requirements to make the right decisions. Conditions can be simulated more quickly. After only a few days of measurements, we’ll know how something will behave in practice many years from now. Examples include accelerated corrosion testing (electrochemical), lifetime predictions, coating testing, and chrome-free surface treatments. You’ll receive a recommendation or solution that takes into account corrosion rate, safety, maintenance, and cost.

Choice of joining technique: This lab’s specialism includes high-temperature vacuum soldering and welding techniques.

Determine the properties of your material: This can include physical characterisation (expansion coefficient, specific heat, particle size, physical reactions, pore size, etc.), mechanical testing, chemical analysis (of gases, liquids and solids down to the ppm level), setups with analytical methods, optical measurements, and geometric measurements.

TNO is well acquainted with (non-exhaustive list):

• Construction materials, high-strength steels, and high alloys
• Refractory metals and ODS steels
• Aluminium, and other non-ferrous materials
• Composites
• Glass and quartz
• Ceramic materials
• (Fibre-reinforced) graphite
• (Fibre-reinforced) plastics
• Coatings (organic, hybrid, or inorganic)
• Gases and liquids