PHYSICAL METALLURGY

RPC offers remedial assistance to industry on a broad range of material problems. Our team of industry experienced professional engineers and welding technicians, in conjunction with a fully equipped, in-house, ISO 9001:2015 qualified materials testing facility, is utilized for fast turnaround and excellent service.

Failure Investigations

Since 1962, RPC has been performing metallurgical root-cause failure investigations as well as assistance in preventing re-occurrences. These failures occur in all types of environments and has led RPC to work extensively in industries such as pulp and paper, nuclear, fossil fuel plants, oil and gas, marine, aerospace, manufacturing, offshore, and many miscellaneous facilities throughout the region.

Failure investigations are considered when in-service or fabrication failures have major financial, safety, or legal implications. 

At RPC, our metallurgical staff can evaluate material failure causes as well as recommend steps to prevent or minimize re-occurrence. Our goal is to assist clients with material problems to improve the quality assurance, safety and reliability of equipment and products. For the legal and insurance community, RPC provides forensic metallurgical services to identify the failure causes.

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

RPC provides a wide range of Non-Destructive Test Inspections as well as videoscoping and strain gauging. Testing can be performed on-site or in our lab using liquid penetrant, magnetic particle and ultrasonics. Training and testing of NDT procedures are also provided at RPC. 

RPC's field technicians are qualified to perform mechanical testing to the requirements of CWB Standards for Welder and Weld procedure qualification. As well, our staff includes Levels 1, 2 and 3 inspectors for Non-Destructive and Destructive Testing. RPC has extensive experience with in-field inspections of nuclear and fossil plants, pulp and paper and oil and gas facilities. RPC's expertise is in specialized inspections using ultrasonic, LP, MP and videoscope equipment. RPC also specializes in on-site strain gage testing of hydro dams, cranes and power plant piping for signs of stress.

SERVICES:

  • Liquid penetrant examination

  • Replica metallography

  • Ultrasonic examination

  • Videoscope inspections

  • Strain gauge testing

  • Training and testing of NDT procedures

  • Hardness testing

  • Positive material identification

  • Magnetic particle examination

FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT:

  • Complete laboratory for visual and fluorescent inspections 

  • Wet bench facilities

  • Full metallographic laboratory

  • Fully equipped machine shop

Physical Metallurgy
Tel: 506.452.1212
Toll Free: 1.800.563.0844
info@rpc.ca

Non-Destructive Testing Examination Centre

RPC is an approved examination center by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) for those seeking CGSB 48.9712 (ISO 9712) certification / recertification in non-destructive inspection methods. Both practical examinations and written tests can be carried out for magnetic particle and liquid dye penetrant inspection methods. Written tests can be carried out for all other non-destructive inspection methods. Candidates are required to meet all training, prerequisites and visual requirements from NRCan before attempting either the written or practical examinations. Twenty-four notice is requested to cancel any scheduled written or practical examination.

Workshops are available upon request to review and practice the magnetic particle and liquid dye penetrant inspection methods.  

NDT Exam Scheduling: ndtexam@rpc.ca

Mechanical & Corrosion Testing

RPC provides a broad range of material tests to measure corrosion resistance, mechanical properties and physical properties of metals, composites and alloys. 

RPC metallurgical lab capabilities include mechanical testing (tensile, bend, nick-break, fatigue, hardness, Charpy impact), metallographic assessment (microstructure, grain size, case depth, volume fraction), corrosion testing (stress-corrosion, immersion), and material identification (chemical analysis, XRF, SEM analysis). RPC can aid to verify materials meet standardized corrosion and material specifications including those from ASTM, NACE, ISO, ASME, AWS, API, and CSA, as well as client specified requirements.

Weld Procedure Qualification

RPC provides corrosion and mechanical testing services to verify that welded test assemblies meet the specific requirements of standardized codes from North America and Europe, including ASME Codes and Standards (Boiler and Pressure Vessel, Power Piping, Process Piping, Heat Transfer Components), API Storage Tanks, AWS Weld Tests, CSA Welding Standards, Lloyd’s Register, and Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Standards, as well as client specified requirements.