SEM & EDS in Failure Analysis: Let the Sample Tell the Story
From Corrosion Chronicles by Materials Technology Institute
June 3, 2026 · 1h 3m · Episode 37
About this episode
Experts discuss the role of SEM and EDS in failure analysis and materials investigations.
In this episode, failure analysis expert Tedd Anastas of Anastas Technical Services and Brent Moore of Moore Analytical join co-host Heather Allain and guest host Andrew Rentsch, Materials Engineer at Huntsman Corporation, for a practical discussion on scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and their role in failure analysis and materials investigations. The conversation explores how SEM differs from optical microscopy, how SEM paired with EDS can reveal important chemical and microstructural clues, and why EDS results are often best treated as qualitative indicators rather than precise quantitative measurements. Tedd and Brent discuss detection limits, normalized compositions, false positives, fatigue striations, fracture surface interpretation, contaminants, inclusions, non-metallic materials, sputter coating, and elemental mapping. Along the way, they share case study examples, practical investigation tips, and a few unexpected detours involving dinosaur eggs and wig hair. This episode is sponsored by Tricor Metals and Rolled Alloys. Corrosion Chronicles is produced by Association Briefings.
People in this episode
Host: Heather Allain
Guests: Tedd Anastas, Brent Moore, Andrew Rentsch
Topics covered
- failure analysis
- scanning electron microscopy
- energy dispersive spectroscopy
- materials investigations
- case studies
- investigation tips
Keywords
- SEM
- EDS
- failure analysis
- materials engineering
- chemical clues
- microstructural clues
- case studies
- investigation tips
Sponsors
Tricor Metals, Rolled Alloys
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Anastas Technical Services, Moore Analytical, Huntsman Corporation, Association Briefings
More episodes of Corrosion Chronicles
- Providing Materials Expertise to Process Commercialization · May 6, 2026 · 1h 5m
- Hydrofluoric Acid and Anhydrous Hydrogen Fluoride - Part 2 · April 1, 2026 · 42 min
- Hydrofluoric Acid and Anhydrous Hydrogen Fluoride - Part 1 · March 4, 2026 · 43 min
- Corrosion and Wear Materials Solutions · February 4, 2026 · 54 min
- Eddy Current Testing (ECT) of Heat Exchanger Tubes · January 7, 2026 · 55 min
- Column Internals · December 3, 2025 · 1h 1m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Corrosion Chronicles podcast page.