Failure Analysis Laboratory Services & Consulting

We work with you to analyse failures, find their root cause and, more importantly, provide timely and cost-effective solutions. Lucideon is an independent materials consultancy and failure analysis laboratory that uses a wide range of analysis techniques - from visual inspection and non-destructive examination to advanced microscopy, chemical analysis, surface analysis, and mechanical testing - to understand why materials and products fail and how to prevent recurrence

Root cause investigation

At Lucideon, we know that identifying material, process and product faults and failures, and finding the root cause of failures quickly, are of paramount importance in order to avoid downtime, inform product development, and ensure buyer satisfaction.

For metals and non-metals

For metals, the laboratory testing services are augmented by extensive metallography and metallurgical evaluation capabilities, which, when combined with fractography using a scanning electron microscope, can further unlock important clues in the investigation of the root causes of failure.

For non-metals, chemical and surface analysis are often key to identifying contaminants; where they are and how they have been introduced into processing.

Adding value throughout the material life cycle

Failure analysis and root cause investigation is critical during any phase of the material life cycle.  While it can often be thought of as occurring only as part of the quality control or service performance process, analysis during the design, feasibility and testing phases can also provide valuable information leading to improvements in the durability and performance of new products.

Coating failure analysis

Coating failure analysis is a critical service for identifying the root causes of degradation, delamination, blistering, cracking, or corrosion in protective and functional coatings. At Lucideon, our coating failure analysis combines advanced analytical techniques - such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and chemical compositional verification - with expert consultancy to provide in-depth insight into failure mechanisms. Whether the coating is organic, metallic, or ceramic, we assess performance issues across industries including aerospace, automotive, construction, and energy. Our clients rely on us not only to diagnose coating failures but also to provide recommendations for improved formulation, surface preparation, and application processes.

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Why Lucideon?

We have extensive laboratory facilities and capabilities for testing, analysis, evaluation and characterization, and unrivalled experience in understanding the fundamental material science behind potential failure mechanisms and also in knowing how to test, diagnose, and rectify them, in situations ranging from ceramic tiles to nuclear power stations. We can turn failure into success.

Our analysis techniques to understand material failures

To identify the root cause of failures, our experts combine complementary analysis techniques, selecting the right tools for your material, component and failure. Typical techniques include:

Initial examination and non-destructive evaluation - visual inspection, dimensional measurement and, where appropriate, tomography to document the failure and identify obvious features such as distortion, cracking, impact damage or wear patterns.
Fractography and microscopy - stereo optical microscopy, metallography and fractography using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to characterise fracture surfaces, crack initiation sites, secondary cracking, inclusions and microstructural features that control how a component failed. Where needed, SEM with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) provides localised chemical information at fracture origins and defects.
Microstructural and metallurgical evaluation - preparation and examination of polished and etched sections to assess grain size, phase distribution, heat-treatment condition, inclusions, porosity, segregation, weld quality, and other factors that influence mechanical performance and failure behaviour.
Chemical and compositional analysis - bulk and local composition measurements (for example XRF, ICP-based techniques, and wet chemistry) to confirm material composition, detect off-spec chemistry, identify contaminants, and compare failed and non-failed parts. For non-metals, we assess formulation, fillers, additives, and degradation products to understand how the composition affects failure.
Surface and coating analysis - advanced surface-sensitive techniques such as FTIR, XPS, ToF-SIMS, cross-sectional microscopy, surface profilometry, and adhesion testing to investigate coatings, interfaces, surface treatments and contamination. These techniques are particularly powerful for coating, adhesive, and surface-related failures.
Mechanical and physical testing - hardness, tensile, fatigue, impact, wear, and other mechanical tests on failed and reference samples to quantify property levels and understand how loading conditions, design features or processing have contributed to failure. Where appropriate, we also use thermal and environmental testing to assess behaviour under service-relevant conditions.
Data interpretation, modelling and life assessment - image analysis, statistical evaluation, and, where relevant, finite element analysis (FEA) to link test data back to real service conditions and to support redesign, material selection, or fitness-for-service decisions.

By combining these techniques within a structured failure investigation, we can explain not only how a component failed, but also what needs to change in design, material, processing or service conditions to avoid similar issues in future.