INTRODUCTION
For the
want of a nail, the shoe was lost
For the want of a shoe, the horse was lost
For the want of a horse, the rider was lost
For the want of a rider, the battle was lost
For the lost battle, the Nation was lost
All for the want of a horse shoe nail
Benjamin Franklin - 1758
Your laboratory testing is critical
to the safety and reliability of the parts you deliver. In our aerospace
industry, there are millions of parts, components and samples that require
testing. Some are giant and require elaborate tests and equipment. Some
are small, possibly the size of a horse shoe nail but each part, no
matter it's size, is required in our complex interdependent industry.
OMEGA RESEARCH is dedicated to providing the high quality, time critical
testing services you demand. Our expert staff is well seasoned in the
aircraft industry, and can provide the precision testing and fast support
you need. Nail down your testing requirements with Omega. We're always
here when you need us!
WHO
ARE WE
OMEGA RESEARCH is a consulting Engineering and Testing Laboratory
specializing in hydrogen embrittlement. We serve the Metal Finishing
and, Processing Industry with special emphasis towards Aircraft, Aerospace,
and industrial plating processes.
Our firm draws on over 45 years
Aircraft Industry experience. We employ degreed Registered Professional
Engineers having years of experience in metal finishing and processing.
We are the largest hydrogen embrittlement
testing laboratory in the World, with 72 testing machines on line to
assist you.
HOW
CAN WE ASSIST YOU
OMEGA RESEARCH can provide you with engineering expertise in
a number of areas:
-Notch tensile bar, sustained
load embrittlement testing
-Plating, processing and finishing technical assistance
-Failure analysis
-Associated metal processing assistance such as heat
treatment, shot peening, material selection, and
manufacturing methods and procedures.
-Specification questions
OMEGA RESEARCH utilizes sustained
load, "hanging weight" type testing machines. These are sometimes
known as stress rupture or "creep" testing machines, and have
been proven over time as extremely successful in determining the presence
of hydrogen embrittlement in sample bars. Our testing machines are designed
and constructed to rigid ASTM requirements, and consistently calibrate
to better than 1% accuracy. Omega Research can also perform other types
of Embrittlement Testing on ASTM F519, Type 1a1, 1a2, 1b, 1c, 1d, &
1e samples. We can, in unique circumstances, perform embrittlement testing
on actual parts or components. Contact us for specific capabilities.
WHAT
IS HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT?
HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT is a sinister type failure, occurring in moderate
and high strength steels, and also in titanium alloys. This failure
occurs at stress levels below the ultimate strength of the part. Hence
the failure is almost always time delayed, usually after assembly and
use of the component. Embrittlement failure in steels occurs by migration
of hydrogen atoms to areas of high stress, i.e. notches, grooves, holes,
or internal microstructural defects. At these areas hydrogen atoms accumulate,
coalesce, and develop into micro-cracks usually resulting in rapid fracture
after micro-crack development.
Hydrogen pick up can occur from
pre-plate cleansing from acidic solutions and of course from the actual
plating operation especially if it is an electrolytic process. Plating
baths of acidic composition, some cyanide solutions, and factors affecting
the current densities at the cathode can promote absorption of hydrogen
into the plated parts.
A notch tensile bar is commonly
used to determine susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. The bars
are produced from alloy steel, and heat treated to a high strength level.
The addition of a precision notch in the bar forces the bar to behave
in a very brittle fashion if hydrogen has been infiltrated into it.
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