Comprehensive Analytical Services for a Key Component

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Comprehensive capabilities

Kinectrics’ staff has extensive experience in diagnostics and condition assessment of polymer and elastomer materials. Our capabilities range from providing in-depth analysis of materials to identifying the root causes of failure, to material performance tests in environments that simulate plant conditions.

We offer a comprehensive set of specialized material testing services to our clients in the cable and equipment-manufacturing sector. Using a broad range of characterization tools, we can assess aging and failure mechanisms, as well as recommend and develop improved replacement materials or repair methodologies. Applications include coatings, paints, gaskets, diaphragms, bladders, fiber-reinforced epoxies etc.

CANDU^®and other nuclear expertise

Our cable test facilities have been used effectively to assess safety-system cable performance for simulated Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) and Main Steam Line Break (MSLB) conditions. We have assisted our clients in ensuring that cables will maintain good electrical performance for the life of the plant, or have identified materials that require replacement.

Materials Testing and Characterization

• Mechanical testing (uniaxial or biaxial stress, tensile strength and elongation)
• Indenter measurements
• Visual and microscopic examination
• Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA)
• Elastodynamic Spot Testing
• Oxidation Induction Time (OIT) measurements using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
• Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)
• Determination of activation energies for polymeric compounds
• Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy
• Optical and Electron Microscopy combined with X-ray diffraction elemental analysis
• Full range of conventional chemistry analysis (i.e. gel/plasticizer determinations)

Cable Insulation Assessment

• Use of Near Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy to identify cable insulation materials non-destructively and non-intrusively in the field
• Use of cable indenter to provide life assessments of cables in the field
• Conduct tests on cable samples to determine extent of aging and residual service life
• Non-destructive assessment of cable condition using combinations of polymer characterization techniques with micro-samples
• Provide expertise in such areas as partial discharge, artificial grounding, dielectric loss, and conduction current waveform methods.

Cable Quality Verification

• Conduct thermal accelerated aging assessments in the temperature range of -72° C to 177° C, using environmental chambers with uniform heating and humidity control
• Conduct irradiation aging assessments of polymeric materials
• Conduct steam and chemical exposures to simulate customer environments, including Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) and Main Steam Line Break (MSLB) simulations for nuclear customers
• Perform electrical function testing during harsh steam and chemical environment exposures

Cable Management Program

• Identify and assess installed cable stock
• Identify and classify immediate potential problems
• Test representative cables and extend results to installed base
• Determine remaining service life and develop replacement schedule
• Analyze failed cables and determine failure path
• Electrical and non-electrical on-site and off-site tests

Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) is applied to non-destructively identify the chemical composition of cable insulation found on control and power cables in nuclear plants.

Kinectrics offers one of the most advanced NIR laboratories in the world with state-of-the-art equipment specifically designed for field scanning, advanced spectral analysis techniques, and data flow/documentation procedures.

For more information, contact

Allan Jarvine, 416.207.6000 x5785, allan.jarvine@kinectrics.com

Rick Lewak, 416.207.6000 x6585, rick.lewak@kinectrics.com