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EXPERTISE

Working at the interface between industry, academia, research institutions, and governments, FIRST-M specializes in solving problems related to the analysis and prevention of failures while pursuing active research programs dealing with fatigue, fracture, and corrosion damage accumulation and assessment.

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  • We have cultivated our transdisciplinary expertise to best solve complex problems in a variety of major industries.

  • We provide cost-effective consulting support to industry and governments concerning the implication of structural materials operating within any corrosive environment—be it an aqueous solution or associated environments (such as aqueous variations in nuclear and petroleum technology), gas, elevated temperature, or radiation.

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Our subject matter expertise includes but is not limited to:

CORROSION AND MATERIALS DEGRADATION 

  • Corrosion: atmospheric, underground, general, pitting, galvanic, intergranular, crevice, microbiological, selective, flow-assisted, under-deposit/installation, stray-current corrosion

  • Corrosion of steel in concrete

  • Stress corrosion cracking (SCC), corrosion fatigue, hydrogen embrittlement

  • Liquid metal embrittlement

  • Fatigue, embrittlement, fracture, creep, wear

MATERIALS

  • Carbon steels, including pipeline steels

  • High-strength low-alloy steels

  • Stainless steels: martensitic, austenitic, PH, ferritic, and duplex

  • Aluminum alloys

  • Titanium alloys

  • Magnesium alloys

  • Nickel-based alloys

  • Cast irons

EFFECT OF MANUFACTURING
PROCESSES ON CORROSION
RESISTANCE

  • Metallurgical processes

  • Welding, brazing

  • Forming, machining

  • Heat treatment, surface finishing

NUCLEAR MATERIALS AND NUCLEAR CORROSION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

  • Irradiation-assisted fatigue corrosion cracking (IAFCC)

  • Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC)

  • Radiation-induced corrosion

  • Water-cooled nuclear reactors, steam generators, and steam turbines

  • Naval propulsion (naval reactors)

PREDICTION OF CORROSION AND FAILURES

  • Effects of material chemistry, microstructure, and mechanical properties

  • Effects of applied and residual stresses and static, dynamic, and cyclic stresses

  • Effect of environment on materials behaviour and corrosion characteristics

  • Effect of electrochemical potential

  • Probabilistic factors

  • Statistical analysis and data distribution

MITIGATION OF CORROSION AND FAILURES

  • Materials selection and design

  • Heat treatment and stress relieving

  • Surface treatment and coatings

  • Electrochemical protection (cathodic protection)

  • Changing environmental parameters

  • Corrosion inhibitors

  • Changing/improving design

  • Changing operational parameters 

ACCIDENT AND FAILURE INVESTIGATIONS

  • Design appraisals, inspection, and site surveys

  • Poorly fabricated components and equipment

  • Electron microscopy with a variety of other characterization techniques

  • Mechanical testing and simulation studies

  • Root cause analysis: corrosion, yielding, embrittlement, fatigue, cracking, brittle/ductile fracture, rupture, creep, buckling, wear, leaks, residual stresses, structural vibration

UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Bridges, including highway bridges and railway bridges

  • Reinforced concrete structures

  • Drinking water mains and sewer systems

  • Water and wastewater treatment plants

  • Electrical utilities and utility grid

  • Underground storage tanks

  • Hazardous materials storage

INDUSTRIES AND HIGH-RISK TECHNOLOGIES

  • Energy: fossil power; offshore petroleum; oil and gas exploration

  • Gas and liquid transmission pipelines

  • Petroleum refining

  • Chemical/petrochemical technology

  • Aerospace and space technology

  • Medical implant devices

  • Defense: Air Force, Army, Navy

SEAWATER CORROSION

  • Ship and tanker hulls

  • Offshore platforms

  • Subsea pipelines

  • Harbor equipment

  • Seaplanes

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