ERA Technology has provided comprehensive reliability and failure analysis services for over 35 years. These services have assisted countless manufacturers and system users with detailed investigations into materials-based problems. Each assignment is different and projects have ranged from the analysis of fires in electrical systems, identification of contaminants in fuel and hydraulic systems to improving the fracture tolerance of turbine blading.

These services have recently been enhanced with the installation of a new scanning electron microscope (SEM) microanalysis system, which replaces the previous SEM that had completed over 2500 investigations during its 12 year service.

t (from left to right) Fred Cahill, ERA's CEO, with Pippa Howard and Dr Stephen Pitman from ERA's Reliability and Failure Analysis business, at the new ERA SEM microanalysis facility.

The new SEM provides a significant improvement in image quality. For example, the pictures below show two SEM images of a fibre sample. Picture 1 shows a conventional SEM image. Picture 2 shows the increased depth and clarity available using ERA's new SEM facility.

p Picture 1: Conventional SEM image	p Picture 2: Increased image depth and clarity

The new SEM also offers a much improved element detection sensitivity and a larger examination chamber which can handle samples up to 250mm in diameter.

For more information about the new microanalysis facility, please contact Pippa Howard or Dr Stephen Pitman by telephone: +44 (0) 1372 367444 or email: sem@era.co.uk.

About ERA Technology
ERA Technology works at the leading edge of many advanced technologies. The business was founded in 1920 and today provides specialist, high value-added, technology-based services including design and development, testing, assessment and expert advice.

The company has built an international reputation for technical expertise through constant innovation at the leading edge of technology. ERA's services reduce technical and commercial risk, improve the operational performance of engineering infrastructure assets, and enhance the competitiveness of products and systems.

ERA Technology is a Cobham company.