Frequently Asked Questions

  • Metallurgical Solutions, Inc. (MSI Lab) is an advanced materials testing laboratory specializing in expedited analysis of metals for critical industries. We routinely help our customers prevent future problems in their final products as well as provide expert failure analysis when something does go wrong. We also provide litigation support and expert witness testimony for law firms and companies within the United States.

  • Metallurgical Solutions, Inc. services companies in a wide variety of industries.

    • Aerospace

    • Automotive

    • Construction

    • Consumer Products

    • Manufacturing

    • Medical

    • Mining and Resource Extraction

    • Pulp and Paper

    • And many many more!

  • Metallurgical Solutions, Inc. is located at 331 E Helena St., Dayton, Ohio 45404. We are only minutes from downtown and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB).

    Dayton has been at the heart of innovation for over 150 years and that legacy is ongoing. MSI Lab is proud to serve companies on the cutting edge!

  • Metallurgical Solutions, Inc. serves customers worldwide, from only a few blocks down the road to 10,000 miles away.

  • Yes! We welcome and encourage visitors to check out our facilities! Just drop us a note here to schedule a visit.

  • Nope. Metallurgical Solutions, Inc. is a Veteran-Owned small business. We pride ourselves on our independence and ability to work seamlessly as a team in order to return high-quality, expedited results!

  • A2LA Accreditation – ISO/IEC 17025

    MSI is accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) under ISO/IEC 17025, the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories. This accreditation confirms our technical competence and ability to produce precise and accurate test results.

    View Our ISO 17025 2-28-2027 2037.01

    For more information, visit A2LA's official website.

    GE S-400 Special Process Certification

    MSI holds the GE S-400 certification, indicating our approval as a Special Process Supplier for General Electric. This certification demonstrates our adherence to GE's stringent quality requirements for materials testing and analysis.

    View our GE-S400 GT193-68639-Nov 30, 2026--AI-1certificate

    Details about GE's supplier certifications can be found on GE Aerospace's website.

  • At MSI Lab we pride ourselves on our turnaround time! Depending on the job, we are often able to provide you with your results within 24 hours.

    Click here to request a quote so we can provide you with a turnaround time that works for you!

  • We accept samples shipped via the USPS or other major carriers. If you’re local, you’re welcome to drop your samples off at our lab at your convenience. We also offer pick-up service for Dayton-area businesses along our route.

  • For heavy samples, make sure they are secured within the container or properly strapped on a pallet. Small samples should be bagged and shipped in a sturdy box or envelope.

    If you are submitting samples for failure analysis, it is important that you do not attempt to reassemble the pieces as the fracture surfaces can easily become obscured. Wrap fractured ends before shipping.

  • Submit a request for quote here for pricing information.

  • We accept payments via credit card or through a purchase order (PO).

  • Metallurgy is a branch of Materials Science and Engineering that is concerned with the chemical and physical properties and behavior of metals and alloys.

    Metallurgical testing assesses those properties for processing and use in the final product. It is a crucial process to ensure the safety and integrity of products that we use every day.

    Thank your local metallurgist!

  • Metallurgical Solutions Inc. offers a wide range of destructive testing options.

    • Hardness (Rockwell, Brinell)

    • Microindentation Hardness (Vickers, Knoop)

    • Charpy Impact

    • Tensile (r-Value, n-Value)

    • Fastener Tensile (Axial)

    • Bond Strength of Thermal Spray Coatings

    • Bend Test

    • Coating Mass

    • Case Depth

    • Microstructure

    • Metallographic Evaluation

      • Alpha Case

      • Carbide Content

      • Preparation

      • Plating Thickness

      • Inclusion Content

      • Susceptibility to IGA of Austenitic Stainless Steel

      • Intergranular Attack/Oxidation

      • Depth of Decarburization

      • Grain Size

      • Microetch/Macroetch

      • Replication

      • SEM Performance

    • Chemical Analysis

      • Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (GDS)

      • Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF)

      • Combustion Analysis

    • Weld Examination (Operator and Procedure Qualification)

    • Failure Analysis

    • Low Alloy Steel

    • Cast Iron

    • High Alloy Steel

    • Nickel

    • Titanium

    • Aluminum

    • Copper

    • Lead

    • Gold

  • Yes! Research and Development projects are a regular part of our business. If you have only one sample or require repeated testing over many years, we’re happy to be a part of innovation!

  • Mechanical Testing in metallurgy is the physical manipulation of metals with controlled forces and interpreting the results.

  • At MSI Lab, we offer several types of Mechanical Testing.

    • Hardness

      • Rockwell (HRB, HRC, HR15T, HR30T, and HR30N)

        • Test Methods: ASTM E18, F606/F606M

      • Brinell (10/500 and 10/3000) Kgf

        • Test Method: ASTM E10

    • Microindentation Hardness

      • Vickers (50, 300, 500, and 1000) gf

      • Knoop (50, 300, 500, and 1000) gf

      • Test Methods: ASTM E384, E92

    • Charpy Impact (Up to 240 ft lbs/325 J / -40 to 95) °F

      • Test Method: ASTM E23

    • Tensile

      • Test Methods: ASTM A370, E8/8M, B557

        • r-Value

          • Test Method: ASTM E517

        • n-Value

          • Test Method: ASTM E646

        • Yield Point Elongation

          • Test Method: ASTM E8

    • Fastener Tensile (Axial - Load to 60,000 lbs)

      • Test Methods: ASTM F606/F606M

    • Bond Strength of Thermal Spray Coatings

      • Test Method: ASTM C633

    • Bend Test

      • Test Methods: ASTM E190, E290

    • Coating Mass

      • Test Methods: ASTM A90

  • Metallurgical Solutions, Inc. offers several metallographic evaluation options.

    • Preparation

    • Alpha Case

    • Carbide Content

    • Plating Thickness

    • Inclusion Content

    • Susceptibility to IGA of Austenitic Stainless Steel

    • Intergranular Attack / Oxidation

    • Depth of Decarburization

    • Grain Size

    • Microetch / Macroetch

    • Replication

    • SEM Performance

  • Metallurgical Chemical Analysis is used to identify and quantify the elemental composition of metals and alloys.

  • Metallurgical Solutions, Inc. has an array of methods to determine the chemical composition of metals and alloys.

    • Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (GDS)

      • Test Methods: ASTM A751, E415, E1086, E1999, E1251, and E2994

    • Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF)

      • Low Alloy Steel (Al, C, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, P, S, Si, Ti, V)

      • Cast Iron (C, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, S, Si, Ti, V)

      • High Alloy Steel (C, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, P, S, Ti, W, V)

      • Aluminum (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Si, Ti, V, Zn, Mg)

      • Titanium (Al, V, Fe, Mo, Cr, Mn, Sn, Zr, Nb)

      • Test Methods: ASTM E1085, E572, E2465, and E539

    • Combustion Analysis

      • C, H, N, O, S

      • Test Methods: ASTM E1019, E1941, E1409, and E1447

    • Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS)

      • Test Method: ASTM E986

  • Yes! We offer both Weld Operator and Weld Procedure Qualification evaluations.

    We have extensive experience with the following welding codes:

    • ASME IX

    • AWS D1.1/D1.1M

    • AWS D1.2/D1.2M

    • AWS D1.6/D1.6M

    • AWS D1.9/D1.9M

    • AWS D17.1/D17.1M

    Additionally, we evaluate Laser Welds, Electron Beam Welds, and braze joints.

  • Yes! Our metallurgists are well-known and sought-after for their experience and success in failure analysis. Our expedited process has saved organizations countless amounts of time and money by determining root cause and providing insight to prevent future issues.

    Let us be your first call!

    Call Us Now!