Category Archives: Materials Science Engineers

Editor’s Choice 2020: Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention

posted April 2021

The Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention editorial team recently announced this year’s Editor’s Choice articles, showcasing six of the high-quality articles that were published in the journal in 2020. One of these top articles was authored by former MEE intern, Reid Schur.  Reid interned with us in 2016 and is currently a Materials Science PhD candidate at the University of Washington conducting research on metal additive manufacturing. Congratulations Reid.

All of the 2020 Editor’s Choice articles are free to read and can be shared with colleagues.

• “A Fractographic Analysis of Additively Manufactured Ti6Al4V by Electron Beam Melting: Effects of Powder Reuse” by R. Schur, S. Ghods, E. Schultz, C. Wisdom, R. Pahuja, A. Montelione, D. Arola, and M. Ramulu, Vol 20(3), June 2020, p 794-803 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11668-020-00875-0

• “Effects of Axial and Multiaxial Variable Amplitude Loading Conditions on the Fatigue Life Assessment of Automotive Steering Knuckle” by K. Reza Kashyzadeh, Vol 20(2), April 2020, p 455-463 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11668-020-00841-w

• “UV Aging Effects on Polycarbonate Properties” by S. Redjala, N. Aït Hocine, R. Ferhoum, M. Gratton, N. Poirot, and S. Azem, Vol 20(6), December 2020, p 1907-1916 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11668-020-01002-9

• “Failure Analysis of an Ambulance Cathode Ray Tube Monitor Bracket” by Eli Vandersluis, Alan Machin, Doug Perovic, and Comondore Ravindran, Vol 20(1), February 2020, p 23-33 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11668-020-00804-1

• “Failure Investigation of a Blast Furnace Top Gas Recovery Turbine: Chronology and Mechanism” by Kaushal Kishore, Susovan Das, Himangshu Mandal, Omji Anand, Goutam Mukhopadhyay, Manashi Adhikary, and Anup Kumar, Vol 20(4), August 2020, p 1376-1387 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11668-020-00951-5

• “Investigation on the Crack and Thinning Behavior of Aluminum Alloy 5052 Sheet in Stretch Flanging Process” by Surendra Kumar, M. Ahmed, and S. K. Panthi, Vol 20(4), August 2020, p 1212-1228 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11668-020-00922-w

Filed under: ASM, Failure Analysis, Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory,

On-site Testing and Analysis of Steel Tanks

posted August 2020

Sample preparation of steel tanks.

 

Sometimes projects involve samples or artifacts too large or too valuable to remove or cut for evaluation in MEE’s laboratories. In these cases, in situ evaluation is required.

For this project, MEE was asked to evaluate the functional integrity of large steel tanks that had been exposed to elevated temperatures from a fire. Associate Engineer, Henry Ahrenholtz, is seen here preparing a field metallographic specimen. The tank surface was prepared by grinding, polishing and chemical etching to reveal the microstructure of the tank material. A replica of the prepared surface was made and then examined using a portable microscope. A Materials Engineer’s specialized knowledge of the material properties and behavior under certain environmental conditions combined with metallographic expertise in the field provided valuable information for the client to aid in assessing any damage to the tanks caused by fire.

 

 

Filed under: Light Microscope, Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory, metallography, Sample Preparation,

Fractography and Fracture Analysis Webinar

posted July 2020

Join MEE Engineers Dan Grice, P.E. and Larry Hanke P.E. next Tuesday, July 28th, for an ASM International webinar discussing the history of fractography and fracture analysis. Register today!

The study of fractures over the years has had an important role in materials engineering to improve product performance and reliability. This presentation will review the history of fractography, including the historical development of the science, changes in the analytical tools, and some historical case histories showing how fractography has been used over the past 100 years.

Dan Grice, P.E. and Larry Hanke, P.E.

 

Filed under: Fracture Analysis, Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory, Presentations,

ASM Board Appointment

posted June 2020

Larry Hanke, P.E. CEO, Materials Evaluation and Engineering, Inc

 

MEE’s CEO/Senior Engineer, Larry Hanke, was just appointed to the Board of the ASM International Metallographic Society (IMS).

The Metallographic Society is a professional organization serving those involved in the examination, analysis, characterization, structure and evaluation of materials.  Service on the IMS Board of Directors involves planning and driving the future strategy of the society.

Congratulations Larry!

Filed under: Materials Characterization, Materials Science Engineers, metallography, semi-conductor devices,

Dick Kielty

posted March 2020

It is with deep sadness that we share the news that friend and past employee of MEE, Dick Kielty, passed away this week. 

For nearly his entire career, Dick worked Twin City Testing (now Element) providing metallurgical engineering consulting services to local industries.  He retired from Element but was he was not the retiring kind of engineer. Dick began working for MEE at age 73. His intent was to work part time with us for two years but two years turned into eight years and he officially retired at age 81.  We so enjoyed having him around that he remained on our staff email list and would join us at staff lunches after his retirement.

His technical expertise and years of experience were valuable assets to our team. He was a great mentor to the other engineers on staff and enjoyed sharing his knowledge whether it was done one on one or presenting staff training lectures. I think all of us in the materials science and engineering fields can agree that Dick was the role model as someone who was truly dedicated to the profession.

Dick Kielty presenting staff lunch and learn.

 

Filed under: About MEE, Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory,

Nitinol Seminar

posted March 2020
Kurt Schenk and Neal Hanke

Kurt Schenk and Neal Hanke, P.E.

Kurt Schenk and Neal Hanke attended a one day seminar about Nitinol and how its unique properties apply to medical devices and designs. The primary topics for the seminar included structure, processing, mechanical properties, corrosion behavior, and fatigue life of Nitinol. MEE has been helping medical device manufacturers to successfully use Nitinol in their products for almost 25 years. Even with years of experience, MEE staff continually seeks out educational opportunities to keep up with the latest research on this intriguing material.

Filed under: About MEE, Fatigue Failure, Materials Characterization, Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory, medical device manufacturing, Nitinol,

Metallurgical Engineering Intern

posted March 2020

Welcome to MEE’s new intern, Kelsy Holtgrewe.  Kelsy received her Bachelor’s in Metallurgical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology in December. She’ll be starting work toward a Master’s at Colorado School of Mines this fall. She has previous work experience in the materials labs of two large industrial companies so she is familiar with many of the processes and procedures in our metallographic and SEM labs.

MEE understands that internship programs are beneficial to both the student and the company.  Our busy materials science laboratories will provide Kelsy with a valuable real-world engineering experience this summer and our technical staff appreciates the opportunity to mentor new professionals in the field of metallurgical engineering.

Kelsy in the one of SEM labs at MEE.

Filed under: About MEE, Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory, metallography, scanning electron microscope,

MEE Staff Development

posted February 2020

Congratulations to MEE Associate Engineer, Henry Ahrenholtz, who recently passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam certifying him as an Engineer in Training (E.I.T.). The FE exam is the first of two exams required for obtaining a Professional Engineer license. Prior to taking the second exam, E.I.T’s must complete four years of qualifying engineering experience under the supervision of a professional engineer. We look forward to working with Henry as he moves forward towards professional licensure.

Filed under: About MEE, Failure Analysis, Fracture Analysis, Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory,

MEE Presentation on the The Science of Fractography

posted February 2020

Larry Hanke and Dan Grice will be presenting a talk on A Historical Perspective of Fracture Analysis at the February 19 ASM Symposium at Hennepin Technical College.  The theme of the symposium is “Materials Retrospect: 100 Years of Advancement” in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the MN chapter of ASM International. Other presentations at the event will cover topics such as advancements in the casting industry, metal additive manufacturing and breakthroughs in nitinol in medical device design.

Larry and Dan’s presention will review the history of fractography, including the historical development of the science, changes in the analytical tools, and some historical case histories.
The effective use of materials in various engineering applications requires an understanding of material properties, including conditions of material failure. Fracture is behavior that must be taken into account. The study of fractures over the years has had an important role in materials engineering to improve product performance and reliability.

Dan Grice, P.E. and Larry Hanke, P.E.

Filed under: About MEE, ASM, Case Studies, Failure Analysis, Fracture Analysis, Materials Characterization, Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory, Presentations,

Materials Science Classroom at MEE

posted December 2019

St Thomas engineering students in the SEM lab with MEE Engineer, Jason Larson.

MEE Materials Science Engineer, Neal Hanke, with St Thomas students in the MEE inspection lab.

MEE recently played host to engineering students from the University of St Thomas School of Engineering for instructional tours of our laboratories.  The students spent time with members of our engineering staff in our SEM and the Visual Inspection Labs.

We have been providing these mini-classroom opportunities in collaboration with School of Engineering’s faculty member, Dr Genevieve Gagnon, for quite a few years now.  Dr. Gagnon and MEE CEO, Larry Hanke, share a common goal of creating an educational bridge between academia and industry.

Filed under: Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory,