What to Expect from a Metallurgical Failure Analysis

A failure is when a part does not perform as the customer expects, or the part fails an internal test. Metallurgical failure analysis can be a valuable tool for determining what the next step should be to solving a problem. A cost/benefit analysis should be done to determine if the further study is of benefit. If a metallurgical failure analysis is warranted, there are tests that are usually performed that lead to the most likely mode of failure.