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The M&P Lab specializes in material qualification and failure analysis on a range of materials used in the construction industry.
A host of comprehensive laboratory testing services provides a one-stop-shop for material investigations of cement, concrete, aggregates, asphalts, mortars, stone, and steel.
Applications
Failure Analysis: Analytical testing can provide details about a material’s composition, structure, strength, extent of corrosion, and response to various conditions to uncover the true root causes of why a material failed to perform as expected, or a concrete structure deteriorated prematurely. This information can be used to ensure that the proper repairs are made and corrective actions are taken to prevent recurrence.
Furthermore, testing performed by an independent third-party lab can provide the objective evidence needed to ensure liability is properly assigned.
Material Qualification: Compositional and physical property testing services can be used to qualify alternative low-cost materials, or performance-enhancing materials. By quickly evaluating the potential compatibility of new materials in your production process, you can minimize manufacturing upsets and avoid production of out-of-spec goods, resulting in an increased speed to market with new or lower cost goods.
Process Troubleshooting: Manufacturing issues are costly and must be resolved quickly.
Many root causes cannot be identified with the naked eye. Is a lubricant affecting your process?
Did a supplier provide an out-of-spec raw material? Has the structure of a material changed due to a change in processing conditions? Our experienced chemists, metallurgists and engineers can guide you through the discovery process quickly and methodically to identify what materials should be tested and what tests should be performed, to help bring production back in-line swiftly.
Going “Green”: Lab testing can be used to assess the new environmentally-friendly, or “green” construction materials used as admixtures. The compatibility of new “green” recycled materials like fly ash, slag, and silica fume can be determined by evaluating the elemental composition, chemical and physical properties of each material. In particular, fly ash is generated from various operations and regions, which results in variation in the mineral content. The effects of incorporating “green” materials into concrete can be quantitatively assessed by performing chemical and mechanical tests on the resulting concrete.
Condition Assessment: A major cause of degradation in concrete structures is corrosion of the reinforcing steel.
In order for repairs to be effective, information about the location and extent of corrosion is required. The M&P Lab can perform a non-destructive diagnostic survey, which will pinpoint locations of high corrosion probability.
Additional in-depth testing should be performed at these sites to develop a complete assessment of the condition of the structure.
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