Laboratory
RJ Waldron’s uses a wide variety of the sophisticated scientific equipment to conduct its investigations. Our expansive facilities in Richmond BC allow us to layout an entire plane wreckage and then carefully analyze each part in our laboratory. Whether the aviation incident or accident takes place in England, Norway, Australia or Indonesia, aircraft parts are regularly shipped to our laboratory for testing. In the case of either a plane crash investigation or a helicopter crash investigation R J Waldron’s team has an extensive set of tools and equipment to analyze the appropriate aircraft parts.
Stereomicroscope
A Zeiss Discovery 12 stereomicroscope with a digital camera and image capture system is used for macroscopic examination, documentation and measurement of components at magnification of X5 to X160.
Scanning Electron Microscope
A Cambridge 360 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with a digital image capture system is primarily used for high-magnification examination and documentation of fracture faces to confirm or determine the fracture initiation location, fracture mode and the cause for the failure. The magnification range of the SEM is from X10 to X300,000.
Energy Dispersive Spectrometer
A Quartz XOne energy dispersive spectrometric (EDS) analysis system with X-ray mapping capability is used for analyzing component materials, material defects, engine or gearbox chips, contaminants and corrosion products.
Hardness Testers
Standard Rockwell, superficial Rockwell and micro-hardness testers are used to check the hardness of materials as well as for such tasks as determining the depth of hardened cases, checking for decarburization of steels, etc.
Metallurgical Microscope
A Zeiss Axiovert 200 MAT metallurgical microscope is used to examine and document the microstructure of prepared samples of material and to check for possible defects in those samples at magnifications from X50 to X1600. The microscope is equipped for brightfield, darkfield and differential contrast examination techniques.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer
The Agilent Cary 630 FTIR spectrometer is versatile, innovative, and intuitive, providing superior quantitative and qualitative information for routine analysis of solids, liquids, and gases. The FTIR allows us to identify and confirm plastics, elastomers, and adhesive materials by comparing spectra with the onboard library. Verify the composition and quality of composites, coatings and thin films. Analyze contaminants. Confirm that formulated and finished products comply with defined specifications. Track paint curing and composition. Determine the concentration of UV stabilizers, antioxidants, or filler in plastics. Determine the degree of cure and composition of rubber.