Laboratories
APTECH has a fully equipped metallurgical laboratory utilizing scanning electron microscopes, electron microscope analyzers, routine metallurgical laboratory equipment, and advanced analytical equipment. To meet the need for more accurate inspection information when conducting condition evaluations of equipment, APTECH has developed state-of-the-art digital imaging systems, which are available for image enhancement services. APTECH has pioneered many techniques in surface metallography and has an extensive database covering numerous types of materials. Additionally, APTECH utilizes a wide variety of field equipment, such as color videoprobes, etching and polishing equipment, and fuel sampling devices.
Metallurgical analysis procedures and metallurgical specimens are frequently needed as a part of the RUL assessment program, involving the use of APTECH's Materials Laboratory. Services routinely provided by the laboratory include the following:
- Metallography
- Hardness testing
- Fractography
- Material analysis
- Electron microscopy
- Radiography, ultrasonic, and eddy current testing
- Image enhancement
- INCOTEST
- Water sampling and analysis
- Corrosion rate testing
