Since 1983 Touchsone Research Laboratory has provided fast, accurate and affordable failure analysis to a wide range of industries – from underground mines to advanced spacecraft.

DPIC – Double Poured Indefinite Chill Roll

When a company learned that its cast iron crankshaft product catastrophically failed during use, Touchstone was asked to investigate.

Experts evaluated casting porosity using the SEM and learned that while the metal met both elemental and mechanical specifications, shrinkage porosity at the failure initiation site provided a stress riser that led to the fracture.

Touchstone recommended modifications to the casting process which were able to eliminate this kind of failure.