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Failure Analysis
Failure Analysis at OPR Elastolabs
You may be familar with the situation: a seal that costs just a few cents fails, bringing an entire machine or large vehicle to a standstill. Sometimes it even results in a total loss. Not to mention the associated risks to life and limb for the users of these devices. There are probably few components in technology that have such a major functional impact.
Damage analysis as a core competence
If such a case has occurred, how can it be avoided in the future? How can you learn from a mistake to prevent something worse from happening?
For OPR Elastolabs, failure analysis of elastomer seals and technical molded parts – not just O-rings, but also membranes and hoses made of elastomers or TPE – is one of its core competencies. For over 25 years and in over 3.000 cases, Prüflabor Richters expertise and experience has enabled the identification and sustainable resolution of problems in producion and use of seals.
Small changes and optimizations to the manufacturing process or application can often save significant costs and prevent damage to image and reputation.
Find out more about damage analysis
Practical testing institute
Thanks to our neutral and well-founded damage analyses and extensive experience, we have become a recognized name in the industry, consulted by both producers and users of elastomer seals. Our primary goal is to identify the root cause of the damage and then suggest suitable remedial measures. As a practical testing institute, we believe this is the main benefit we offer our customers. Additionally, our qualified analyses can contribute to amicable settlements in cases of complaints and damage.
In every case of damage, our first priority is to conduct a microscopic examination of the damaged seal and the installation space, as well as an analysis of the boundary conditions that led to the failure. This allows us to determine what additional, more cost-intensive material analyses are necessary. In urgent cases, rapid analyses are also possible, enabling you to obtain initial findings about the damage in as little as half a day.
State-of-the-art testing methods and equipment.
When elastomer seals fail, clear traces are often left behind that allow us to draw conclusions about the damage mechanism. Using state-of-the-art testin methods and equipment, we can clearly analyze and narrow down a large number of cases of damage, such as
- by media to be sealed (chemical attack, swelling, explosive decompreswsion)
- overstressing due to mechanical or physical reasons (abrasion, gap extrusion, spiral defects)
- due to inadequate groove design (incorrect groove depths, sharp edges, excessive diameter clearance) or
- due to material defects, such as the use of the wrong polymer, processing defects, a too-high plasticizer content, or a poor degree of vulcanization.
to name just a few of the most important ones. As a result, you will receive an informative test report, which will include photographic documentation of the damage. We can send the damaged part back to you or, if you prefer, archive it professionally.