Coatings & Surface Treatments
There are several principal processes for coating solid materials, including
- electroplating, primarily of metals
- chemical conversion (e.g. electroless plating)
- organic coating (“painting” or applying one stable material to another)
- physical vapor deposition (e.g. vacuum deposition, EB-PVD, sputter deposition,
cathodic arc, etc.) - chemical vapor deposition
- thermal spray (e.g. plasma, HVOF)
Crane Engineering has the materials science expertise to identify, inspect, and characterize, virtually any type of commercially important coating, including those used at high temperatures, for corrosion, oxidation, and thermal protection. Basic techniques include metallographic sample preparation, light and electron microscopy, analytical technology & chemistry, x-ray and infrared techniques.
Our investigations can examine coating physical properties (e.g., hardness), coating thickness, uniformity, microstructure, and composition. Crane Engineering is particularly proficient in identifying root-cause factors responsible for coating failure or poor performance resulting from defects, the environment, or chemical impurities and contaminants. We strive to establish the relationship between coating process and resultant material characteristics and performance, enabling process and coating robustness.
Dave Kramer, metallurgist; Jeff Pfaendtner, Ph.D., materials scientist; Jean Schlosser, electron microscopy manager; and Hugh Robinson, metallurgy lab manager, combine to form one of the most experienced teams in the forensic investigation of coatings.