Important parameters of particles or fibers include chemical composition, size, proportion and habitus. For inorganic and metallic materials, these properties can be precisely characterized using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray elemental analysis (SEM-EDX).
Typical element patterns in the EDX spectrum enable material identification: peaks of Fe, Cr and Ni, together with the corresponding SEM image, indicate particles that probably originate from a component made of high-alloy chromium-nickel steel. Particles with identical composition are then assigned to a common, representative particle class, such as "high-alloy Cr-Ni steel".
For organic particles Depending on their size, additional analysis methods are available, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and time-of-flight ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). These methods allow precise identification of materials such as plastics, additives or release agents.
The habitus of a particle provides information about the type and degree of wear on components. Ductile deformed, flattened particles indicate high stress, such as occurs in rolling bearings. A large number of similar particles can indicate rapid, massive wear.
Depending on the system information, a particle class can be assigned to a specific component, enabling early detection and removal of the affected part.
