Reliable analytical results depend on many levels of expertise including using the right instrument, the correct sample preparation, and the best-suited technique. When that combination also includes expert and clear interpretation, you have results that not only provide answers, but answers that you can understand.
Our materials experts are always ready to discuss the instrumentation and the techniques available and how they apply to your situation based on the results you are looking for. In addition to standard analytical chemistry, electron microscopy, and optical microscopy services found in our Laboratory Testing Guide, we use the following instrumentation and techniques when seeking resolution to our customers’ problems. Search for instrumentation, materials analyzed by each, and other information by entering your term in the “Search” box above the table below.
For more information, please call us at 1.800.860.1775, option 5.
Equipment Name | Used for | What materials can this technology analyze? | What industries may find this equipment useful? | What groups within RJLG use this piece of equipment? | This technique analyzes: | Other information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High Resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM)![]() | Electron Microscopy Stereopairs of surface | Solid State and Non-volatile MaterialsMetals/AlloysCeramicsPolymers/Rubbers, in forms of nano-phase or bulk | Materials Sciences EngineeringEnvironmentalPharmaceuticalNano | Particulate vs Bulk Analysis | ||
Rapid Air 457![]() | Air Content Via ASTM C457Procedure C and Manual Point Count via ASTMC457 Procedure B | AsbestosAir Sample Filters for AsbestosBulk Materials on FiltersMany Other Materials | Construction Materials | Construction Materials | ||
High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC)![]() | Air Quality Monitoring | Drinking WaterLiquidsSoilsSolidsSurface WipesAir FiltersSorbent Tube | Industrial HygieneEnvironmentalGas and Oil | Chemistry | Trace vs Major Analysis | |
Gas Chromatograph Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID)![]() | Air Quality MonitoringAnalysis for Volatile Organic Compounds | Materials that can be VolatilizedContaminants InvestigationsPurity DeterminationsSolventsOilsEnvironmental | Industrial Hygiene<EnvironmentalGas and Oils | Chemistry | Trace vs Major Analysis | |
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)![]() | Analysis for Asbestos using various methods, including but not limited to:AHERANIOSH 7402ASTEM 5755EPA 100.1EPA 100.2ISO 13074 | RocksMineralsAsbestosCrystalline SilicaCement/ConcreteBuilding MaterialsPharmaceuticalsPigmentsMetalsCeramicsOrganicsFly AshSlagsAll Crystalline Materials | Material ScienceAsbestosMiningEngineering | Asbestos (TEM)NanoLitigation | Particulate vs Bulk Analysis | |
Polarized Light Microscope (PLM)![]() | Construction MaterialsMiningAsbestosHome Owners | OpticalConstruction Materials | Trace vs Major Analysis | |||
Helium Pycnometer![]() | Bulk Density Of Solids | DiisocyanatesPolynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS)FormaldehydeOther Carbonyl Compounds | EnvironmentalGas and OilConstruction Materials | Chemistry | Particulate vs Bulk Analysis | |
Heavy Liquid Separation (HLS) | Characterizing Contaminants In Powder MetalsCharacterizing Hollow Particles in Powder Metals | PowdersCarbon BlacksCementFibersCeramicsPowdered MetalsAluminaSilicaSoils | AerospaceMedicalPower GenerationMilitaryPowder Metal ProducersAdditive Equipment Manufacturers | Powder Metals Division | Particulate vs Bulk Analysis | |
Computer-Controlled SEM (CCSEM) w/optional EDS![]() | Characterizing Powders / Particulates / Discrete Features in Size Range of about 0.1 - 500 Microns | WipesPaintsSoils | Powder Metals ProducersPowder Metals UsersSteel MakersEnvironmental StudiesPharmaceuticalPowder FeedstockLaw Enforcement | Powder Metals Division Materials Characterization Forensics (Gunshot Residue Analysis, or GSR) | Particulate vs Bulk Analysis | |
Gas Chromatography (GCMS)![]() | Chromatography with a Mass Selective DetectorIdentification of Organic Molecular StructureAir Toxins | Activated Carbon | OilGas IndustriesQuality Control FunctionsPlasticsForensic InvestigationsIndustrial HygieneLaw EnforcementEnvironmental Industry | Key Investigative Tool for Many Uses | Trace vs Major Analysis | |
GENESYS™ 10S UV-VIS Spectrophotometer![]() | Determination of Trace Capacity NumberDetermination of the Molasses Number of Activated CarbonDetermination of the Methylene Blue Number of Activated Carbon | Powder Metals for Additive Manufacturing and Powder Metallurgy | Activated Carbon Manufacturing | Chemistry | Trace vs Major Analysis | |
Inductively Couple Plasma - Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES)![]() | Elemental AnalysisMetals Characterization and QuantitationToxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP)Trace Metal AnalysisMajor Constituent AnalysisMaterials Characterization and Quantitation | WatersWastewatersLiquidsSolidsWipesAir Samples | EnvironmentalLocal MunicipalsIndustrial HygieneWaste Characterization and DisposalGlass Composition AnalysisPharmaceuticalQuality Control - Manufacturing IndustryMiningCoalPower PlantsIndustrial HygieneEnvironmental | InorganicsBiopharm | Trace vs Major Analysis | Able to quantify over 50 elements |
Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)![]() | Elemental AnalysisTrace Metals AnalysisMetals Characterization and QuantitationIsotopic SpeciationMetals Ratio Analysis | Hardened Concrete AggregatesBuilding MaterialsRock SamplesSoilDustVermiculite Building MaterialsTalcCosmeticsDrinking WaterAqueous WasteIndustrial Influent/EffluentSolid WasteSludgesSurface WipesMCE Filters | EnvironmentalLocal MunicipalsLocal ResidentsIndustrial HygieneWaste Characterization and DisposalWater SupplyHomeownersPharmaceutical Companies | InorganicsChemistryForensicPharmaceuticals | Trace vs Major Analysis | |
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)![]() | Identifying and Quantifying Major and Minor Elements from F through U, reported down to 0.01% | CoatingsMetalsCarbonPolymersThin FilmsInorganicsGlassCeramicsPaperTeethBone | Any industries that need to know the chemistry of a material | XRD/XRF (Concrete, Construction Materials, Litigation, Chemistry, Etc.) | Trace vs Major Analysis | Complimentary to XRDUsed generally for semi-quantitative analysisCalibrations created specific to client needs for full quantificationCan be used in conjunction with ICP to get a complete analysis of majors and trace elementsCan use ICP/LECO to account for light elements that aren't detectable by XRF (lighter than F)Can be reported either as elements, or more commonly, as oxides |
Ion Chromatography System (IC)![]() | Ion AnalysisDetermination of Hexavalent Chromium | Drinking WaterGroundwaterIndustrial WastewaterAirAqueous WasteIndustrial Influent/EffluentSolid WasteSoilsSludgesSurface WipesMCE Filters | Local MunicipalsIndustrial HygieneEnvironmentalPower PlantsIndustrial and Manufacturing Industries | Chemistry | Trace vs Major Analysis | |
Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer![]() | Lead Analysis | OrganicsPolymersPlasticsOilsContaminantsSome InorganicsTalc | EnvironmentalIndustrial Hygiene | Chemistry | Trace vs Major Analysis | |
Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (CVAA)![]() | Mercury Analysis | Inclusions in MetalsPowder Metals for Additive ManufacturingParticle Size Distribution/Shape Factors/Cross-Contamination in Air Particulate SamplesGunshot Residue (GSR) SamplesPharmaceutical PowdersCeramic Powders | EnvironmentalIndustrial HygieneIndustrial IndustriesManufacturing Industries | Chemistry | Trace vs Major Analysis | |
X-ray Diffraction (XRD)![]() | Mineral Phase IdentificationMineral QuantificationCrystallinity Determination (Amorphous Quantification)Crystalline Silica QuantificationCrystallite Size Determination | SolidsPowders | MinesQuarriesIndustrial Mineral SuppliersPharmaceutical IndustryPower PlantsOil and Gas Industry | Concrete<Construction MaterialsLitigationChemistryBiopharm | Particulate vs Bulk Analysis | Complimentary method to XRF |
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)![]() | Organic IdentificationsSome InorganicIndustrial HygieneOil Mist in AirQuartz in Coal Mine DustForensic Investigations | Sulfur (S8) | OilGas | Particulate vs Bulk Analysis | Multiple uses | |
Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS or PTRMS)![]() | Real-Time Detection Of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)Air Quality MonitoringAir Toxics MeasurementFence Line MonitoringIllicit Material Detection | CoalShalePharmaceuticalsMetal OxidesMetal CarbidesCarbonaceous Molecules (General)PolymersMineralsArtPlantsBiomacromoleculesOrganic MoleculesPigments/DyesMolecules Exhibiting AromaticityExplosivesGunshot ResidueNarcoticsBiological Materials | Environmental StudiesGas and Oil IndustrySecurity and Threat DetectionFood Industry | Trace vs Major Analysis | ||
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)![]() | Surface Elemental AnalysisChemical State Elemental AnalysisThin Film AnalysisSurface ContaminationDepth Profiling to Determine Layer Thickness | CoatingsMetalsCarbonPolymersThin filmsInorganicsGlassCeramicsPaperTeethBone | Semiconductor ManufacturingPackagingTextilesElectronicsPlating | Materials | Particulate vs Bulk Analysis | |
Raman Spectroscopy![]() | Hardened Concrete | Gas and OilRenewable EnergyPharmaAgriculturePolymerCoatingForensicArt Conservation | MaterialsBiopharm | Particulate vs Bulk Analysis | Can often be used in conjunction with infrared spectroscopy to permit more complete chemical assessment of the analyteAlternative method of fluorescence is inhibiting, especially when using visible lasers | |
Gas Chromatograph Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD)![]() | Trace Sulfur Analysis in Drywall and Gypsum | Halogenated Aliphatic HydrocarbonsAromatic HydrocarbonsAlcoholsGlycolsKetonesGlycol EthersEstersCresolPhenol | Construction MaterialsEnvironmental | Chemistry | Trace vs Major Analysis | |
Liquid Chromatography / Mass Spectrometer / Mass Spectrometer (LC/MS/MS)![]() | Mass SpectrometryCompound Identification | NitrosaminesPesticidesDrugs of AbusePharmaceutical ByproductsCarbohydratesAntibioticsAflatoxinsPeptides and ProteinsExplosivesAldehydesKetones | Industrial HygieneEnvironmental SamplingFermentation BrothsGrowth MediaAgriculture IndustryProcess ControlBiomedical Analyses | Chemistry | Trace vs. Major Analysis |
Customizable Automated Techniques
In response to customer requirements, we have developed laboratory automation techniques that reduce the time needed to analyze large numbers of particles to provide results more quickly while still continuing to maintain data quality.
Computer-Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy (CCSEM)
CCSEM is an automated analytical technique that combines a scanning electron microscope (SEM), x-ray analyzer (EDS) and software-controlled digital scan to quickly locate, size and characterize large numbers of individual particles and group them based on their elemental composition and shape. A primary use for this technique is in the automated analysis of gun shot residue (GSR) particles. This technique can be customized based on the application needed.
Automated Steel Cleanliness Analysis Tool (ASCAT)
This technique is based on CCSEM and is primarily used as a quality control tool for characterizing inclusions in steel that have been trapped during the solidification process. The automated analysis quickly identifies and characterizes the steel inclusions but can also be customized based on the application needed.
To view our XRD, Raman, and EDS features & benefits handout, please click here.