What sample size is required?

Sample size depends on the technique. We can work with everything from microscopic particulates to larger surfaces or swabs. If cutting is needed, we’ll prepare the sample in-house to avoid contamination.

How fast can I get the results?

Most contamination analysis projects are completed within 5 to 10 business days, depending on complexity and urgency.

Can contamination be traced back to its source?

Often, yes. Our scientists can trace contamination sources and provide actionable insights if comparative samples and full process context are available.

What types of contaminants can be screened?

We test for a wide range, including metallic particles, organic residues (like oils or solvents), ionic species (salts, acids), thin films, and biological materials such as bacteria or biofilms.

Contamination Analysis Testing Services

What Is Contamination Analysis?

Contaminants accumulate gradually, ion by ion, layer by layer, leading to a progressive decline in performance. Covalent’s contamination analysis detects these intrusions, maps their origin, and drives action to protect both material and process integrity.

Contamination analysis – scientist inspecting particles on illuminated sample slide under microscope to detect trace contaminants in materials and devices

Why Contamination Analysis Is Important

Even trace-level contamination can trigger failure in sectors like semiconductors, aerospace, medical devices, and energy systems. The result? Adhesion loss, biocompatibility issues, electrical shorts, and system-wide degradation.

Contamination analysis supports:

Root cause identification.
Quality assurance.
Regulatory compliance.
Process optimization.
Product reliability.

Our contamination testing services help enforce cleanliness standards, cut failure rates across production lines, and safeguard product integrity at scale.

How It Works

We uncover what infiltrated, track where it spread, and decode how it compromised your surface. Using techniques like SEM/EDS, ToF-SIMS, and FTIR, we deliver material insights with lab-to-line clarity.

When Do You Need Contamination Analysis?

Contamination analysis is your diagnostic fallback across the product lifecycle, but it becomes non-negotiable when:

Yield drops or failure trends spike unexpectedly.
Processes change, or new equipment is installed.
New suppliers, materials, or packaging are introduced.
Field returns or customer complaints emerge.

Common Types of Contamination

Our contamination testing targets a wide range of intrusions that silently erode material quality:

Trace metals.
Organic films.
Particulates.
Biofilms.
Salts and moisture.
Cleaning residues.
Cross-contamination from tools, packaging, or process inputs.

Best Practices for Effective Contamination Analysis

A successful contamination test starts before the sample reaches the lab. To preserve accuracy, follow these practices:

Preserve contamination in its original state; avoid cleaning or altering samples.
Document sample history, process context, environmental conditions, and non-standard observations.
Provide relevant control samples for meaningful comparison.

Complementary Solutions

Contamination analysis often reveals deeper reliability or performance issues. That’s why Covalent pairs it with complementary solutions to deliver complete material clarity. Whether you’re investigating failure, validating materials, or enforcing quality control, our integrated workflows close the loop fast.

We support your objectives with:

Failure Analysis: Trace defect origins across process layers and interfaces.
Material Verification: Confirm composition integrity across suppliers and lots.
Quality Control: Prevent recurrence through proactive contamination testing.

From root cause to preventive action, Covalent delivers the insight your materials demand.

Industries That Benefit From Contamination Analysis

Contamination analysis is foundational when product integrity depends on material purity and surface cleanliness. From wafers to stents, coatings to cells, Covalent helps manufacturers trace and contain the contaminants that compromise performance.

Semiconductor & Electronics

Wafer Fabrication: Impurities such as trace metals or particulates reduce yield and reliability, and can cause shorts or leakage.
PCB Manufacturing: Surface residues increase the risk of shorts, solderability issues, or corrosion.

Optics & Photonics

Lens and Mirror Manufacturing: Particulates or thin films cause haze, transmit light poorly, or reduce optical clarity.
Coating Processes: Surface or embedded contaminants affect adhesion and can introduce scattering effects.

Energy & Battery Technology

Lithium‑ion Batteries: Trace metals or moisture contamination can cause premature capacity fade, internal shorts, or erratic performance.
Solar Panels: Environmental contaminants or deposition residues can result in efficiency loss.

Why Choose Covalent for Contamination Analysis?

Covalent is trusted by professionals across high‑reliability industries for the scientific precision, expertise, and clarity we bring to every contamination study. Our work begins with your problem, not a template. We partner closely to define the scope, recommend the right detection techniques, and guide your team through findings with speed and confidence.

Our scientists and engineers are equipped with advanced instrumentation and multi-disciplinary expertise. With a full suite of capabilities from SEM/EDS and FTIR to ICP‑MS and ToF‑SIMS, we customize every test to deliver the needed resolution, sensitivity, and turnaround time.

That means faster results, tighter feedback loops, and better product outcomes.

And because trust is earned, not assumed, we protect your IP with strict confidentiality, transparent pricing, and detailed documentation. Every report includes methods, conditions, results, and expert interpretation. So you’re never left guessing.

With Covalent, you get more than data. You get direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sample size is required?
Sample size depends on the technique. We can work with everything from microscopic particulates to larger surfaces or swabs. If cutting is needed, we’ll prepare the sample in-house to avoid contamination.
How fast can I get the results?
Most contamination analysis projects are completed within 5 to 10 business days, depending on complexity and urgency.
Can contamination be traced back to its source?
Often, yes. Our scientists can trace contamination sources and provide actionable insights if comparative samples and full process context are available.
What types of contaminants can be screened?
We test for a wide range, including metallic particles, organic residues (like oils or solvents), ionic species (salts, acids), thin films, and biological materials such as bacteria or biofilms.

Commonly Used Techniques for Contamination Analysis

Each technique we use delivers a specific insight. Here’s how we match the method to the contaminant:

FTIR Spectroscopy: Detects and identifies organic residues and films on surfaces, perfect for cleanliness and biomedical testing.
ICP-MS: Performs ultra-sensitive chemical analysis for trace metals in solids or solutions.
SEM/EDS: Identifies particles and residues through surface imaging and elemental contaminant detection.
ToF-SIMS: Analyzes surface contamination of organics or inorganics at ppm levels, ideal for precision industries.