Stain Examination

Staining can affect the aesthetics and functional performance of a product, therefore negatively impacting brand image and leading to failures. LPD Lab Services can analyse and identify the cause of the staining on most materials, helping to remove the stain and prevent reoccurrence in the future. Our experienced analysts investigate root causes by a mixture of XPS, FTIR, FTIR Microscopy, GC-MS, SEM/EDX and SIMS, dependent on the material and anticipated organic or inorganic chemistry. A list of some of the successful jobs undertaken by the laboratory are shown below:

• Identification and elimination of unknown stains on fabrics, materials and manufactured components by XPS, FTIR and SEM.
• Investigation of discolouration of paints, coatings and metals by XPS, FTIR and SEM.
• Root cause analysis of Metal surface discolouration by SIMS, XPS and SEM / EDX.
• Copper water pipe stains and pitting corrosion.