Something Broke. We Find Out Why.

Independent failure analysis with evidence handling, fracture examination and findings that hold up.

Talk to the Lab

Metallurgical Failure Analysis

Failure analysis determines why a component broke — fatigue, overload, corrosion, hydrogen, bad material, bad weld — by reading the evidence the failure left behind. CIC's independent Edmonton lab investigates failed shafts, welds, fasteners, piping and equipment for Alberta's industry, and reports findings that stand up to warranty pushback, insurance review and litigation.

First: Stop and Preserve the Evidence

The most common failure-analysis mistake happens before the lab ever sees the part: fracture faces get fitted back together, cleaned, or left to rust — destroying the surface that holds the answer. Don't rejoin the halves, don't wire-brush, bag and tag the pieces dry, and photograph everything in place before removal. Call us before you ship; five minutes of handling advice protects the investigation.

How the Investigation Runs

  • Background — service history, loading, environment, drawings and material certs establish what should have been true

  • Visual and fractographic examination — the fracture surface identifies the mechanism and the origin

  • Metallography — sectioned, polished and etched specimens reveal microstructure, defects and heat-treatment condition

  • Property verification — hardness and mechanical checks against the specification the material claimed to meet

  • Findings — mechanism, origin, contributing factors, and recommendations to stop the repeat failure

Weld Failures Are Our Home Turf

A large share of industrial failures start at a weld — and CIC sits in an unusual position to investigate them, because the same company qualifies weld procedures, tests welders and inspects production welds every day. When a weld breaks, we read it with the context of how it should have been made, welded and inspected in the first place.

Independence Is the Product

When the fabricator's lab clears the fabricator, nobody's convinced. CIC has no side in the dispute — we didn't make the part, supply the material or weld the joint. Findings follow the evidence, and the report is written to be read by opposing experts, not just filed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a failure analysis take?

Scope drives schedule: a single-mechanism fracture examination moves quickly, while multi-part investigations with property verification take longer. Tell us your deadline — insurance and production-down situations get triaged accordingly.

What does failure analysis cost?

Cost follows scope — how many components, how deep the property verification, whether litigation support is needed. A scoping call is free and usually settles both the approach and the estimate: 780-468-4593.

Can you visit the failure site?

Yes — field examination, in-place documentation and NDT of adjacent components are often the difference between an answer and a guess, especially when the failed part can't be removed quickly. Site work integrates with the lab investigation under one chain of custody.