Material Analysis

RTI has capability and substantial experience in metallurgical analysis of titanium alloy components used in aircraft/aerospace, gas turbine engine(s), medical, chemical and energy applications, such as offshore oil/gas production system components.  Failure analysis is the process of collecting and analyzing data to determine the cause of failure of materials or components and how to prevent recurrence.

Another method of material analysis is used in the Scanning Electron Microscope - Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) Laboratory.  The SEM-EDS laboratory has been an integral part of RTI's commitment tocustomer support as it provides prompt response to customer inquiriesby speedy resolution of material property issues.

Benefit and Applications

There are fundamental benefits derived from RTI’s component failure analyses.  Obviously, this action helps to get the end user/customer back in service in a reasonable time frame (i.e., minimize equipment downtime) with viable short- or long-term solutions.  Furthermore, these analyses provide insight into component failure mode and root causes, which inevitably lead to improved components via re-design and/or titanium alloy product metallurgical and/or manufacturing modifications.  These lessons-learned and close technical interactions between RTI technical experts and their clients can result in dramatic product life-cycle, reliability and performance benefits, or even totally new, better titanium alloys for the application.  

A good example of RTI failure analysis benefits involve corrosion-related failure of Ti Beta C production tubulars originally used in geothermal brine energy extraction, which led to development and commercialization of the lower-cost, fully-resistant Grade 29 titanium alloy tubular alternative.

Conducting Failure Analysis
The cause of failure of materials and components is determined using state-of-the-art analytical equipment, metallurgical characterization, mechanical property evaluation, and may include simulated service testing.

Failure analysis sequence:

• Collect background data and select failed samples
• Examine the failed part
• Perform macroscopic and then microscopic examination of the failed material/component (this may also include stereoscopic examinations, electron microscopy, case depth, hardness, surface/coating, grain size/structure determination via metallographic examination)
• Conduct chemical analysis (bulk, local, surface corrosion products, inclusions, deposits or coating and microprobe analysis)
• Analyze failure mode to identify mechanical versus corrosion (environmental) contributions
• Find the root cause of the failed materials/components
• Conduct simulated service loading or environmental exposure tests to confirm suspected failure mode or adequacy of remedy recommended
• Recommend alternative alloys, component redesign, or improved manufacturing process which might best prevent future component failure

Figure 1: Beta titanium alloy pressure vessel used in the oilfield, which experienced overload failure and intergranular fracture

Figure 2: a) Example of severe crevice corrosion failure of unalloyed titanium tubing in hot chloride brine service.  b) Cross-section photomicrograph through the perforated site showing the titanium oxide crevice corrosion by-product.

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Contact RTI to see how this process can benefit your project.