Contact: Lars Andersson
Contrary to fractography, where you per definition only study
the surface of a fracture, an ocular examination is more
overarching. During the breakdown or damage examination
its important to initially examine and document the detail in
its entirety. Optical examinations are performed with the naked
eye, through optical microscopes (low and high magnifications),
and through a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).
During the ocular examination we look for the presence of
fractures, cracks, corrosion damages, permanent deformation,
surface and other defects, temperature effects, deposits,
corrosion products and material loss, to mention a few examples.
The observations made during the ocular examination help us
make the correct decision on what tests and examinations to
perform in order to draw the right conclusions about the type
of damage and the cause for it. Continued tests could for
instance be mechanical testing, an analysis of deposits, an
analysis of corrosion products, macroscopic and microscopic
examinations of sections as well as an examination and
analysis in SEM/EDX. |
Indications of cracks on
smelt spout tube
Material loss
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