What was the challenge or problem to be solved?
One of our customers needed to perform accelerated testing and ageing to verify that a supplier’s coatings met the technical requirements necessary to guarantee their long-term use and to be able to homologate the component under demanding conditions.
This challenge required assessing the resistance of the coatings against intensive cycles that simulate operating conditions for ten years, ensuring durability, resistance to oxidation and maintenance of aesthetic appearance. The complexity lay in designing a test that would reproduce, in a controlled manner, accelerated ageing under real-life conditions, including factors such as high temperatures, humidity, and exposure to aggressive chemicals.
To address this challenge, the INFINITIA team developed a customised test that accurately replicated the conditions to which the coatings would be exposed. This process included advanced simulations that integrated humidity and heat cycling, testing against various chemical agents, as well as evaluation of mechanical properties.
Each stage of the testing was carefully designed to ensure that the conditions were as representative as possible, and was thoroughly documented using visual and technical analysis tools, such as photographs and measuring equipment, which recorded variations in colour, oxidation status and other key performance indicators selected by the client.
The success of the project was to provide the customer with a detailed report that would allow decisions to be made on the approval process of the coatings provided by the supplier.
How was this addressed or what was the solution?
To address this challenge, INFINITIA’s Forensic Engineering team designed a rigorous and well-structured test plan to simulate the processes that occur in real-life conditions, and over the 10 years that the coating was to be certified.
The process began with a series of tests in which the components were immersed in hot water thermal baths, always using the least aggressive chemicals in this initial phase. This cautious approach allowed a first evaluation of the behaviour of the coating under controlled conditions. Colour variations were accurately measured using a colourimeter, material damage was observed under a microscope, and the first signs of wear were visually documented.
In a second stage, the test conditions were intensified by incorporating chemicals, increasing the complexity and duration of the cycles. Additionally, the coatings were heated in a muffle to evaluate theresistance of the coating to high temperatures and to identify possible thermal stresses. . Each stage of the process was carefully recorded, both through visual documentation and quantitative data, ensuring that all findings were clear and conclusive.
The result was a detailed technical report that not only provided our client with clear and reliable information on the quality and durability of the coatings assessed, but also enabled them to make informed decisions regarding the approval of their suppliers’ materials.
This approach not only solved the initial challenge, but also added value by enabling the client to optimise their selection processes, and ensure that their end products meet the highest standards of quality, durability and design.
