Positive Material Identification

Nowadays as the features of specific materials increasingly become better utilized and Fitness for Service Assessment is required, guarantee of material specifications is more and more important. In addition to compatibility issues, several other reasons can exist for material specification including design, corrosion resistance, and compliance to codes and standards such as the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.

With Positive Material Identification (PMI) the alloy composition of materials can be determined. If a material certificate is missing or it is not clear and you need to be certain about the type of material used, PMI is the solution.

PMI is a Non-Destructive Testing method particularly used for high-quality metals like stainless steel and high alloy metals.

What are the two PMI methods?

1. The XRF-principle (x-ray fluorescence) is one of method of Positive Material Identification. The equipment contains radioactive sources, which sends out radiation. The exposed material then temporarily sends element-specific radiation back, thus generating energy. As every element has its own atomic structure, this reflection will generate a different energy level for every element. This energy is detected and measured, thus identifying the alloy elements. The disengaged radiation however is not in such a way that extra safety means are necessary. One of the most important advantages of the XRF method is that it can be executed without damaging the material. Soon after the research, you will receive the results.
   
   
2. The other method of Positive Material Identification is Spark Emission Spectrography. Spectrography is based on optical emissions and the equipment consists of a probe which releases a spark that is used to vaporize the material being analyzed. The atoms and ions in this vapor produce a spectrum which can be optically measured and then recalculated to determine the components of the material.

With the portable equipment of the SGS PMI experts, positive material identification measurement is possible almost everywhere. In a very short time the plant or components and raw materials can be mapped into any MIM system in order to prevent unexpected failures or extension of maintenance periods.

SGS Industrial Services has the knowledge, expertise and experience to perform conventional and advanced NDT inspections around the world using our unique network. Our service offering ranges from conventional and special NDT techniques to Risk-Based Inspection(RBI/AIM) and NDT Training.

SGS can help anywhere in the world to improve the reliability of your processes and assets.  Simply contact us via our Information Request form for further details.