Failure Analysis
Root cause investigation of material, process, and device failures.
Compositional Analysis
Compositional analysis identifies the chemistry of a material, down to its elements, molecules, and phases. These measurements verify purity and detect impurities before they impact design, production, or compliance.
Metrology Consulting Services
Expert guidance on your metrology strategy and implementation.
Quality Control Testing
The difference between good and exceptional lies in the details. Covalent's Quality Control services delve into those details, providing the assurance that your materials and components consistently uphold the highest benchmarks.
Metallurgical Analysis
Correlating microstructure to processing, properties, and performance of your metallic alloy systems using advanced sample preparation, testing, imaging, and spectroscopy.
Material Verification
Material verification is about knowing exactly what is in your materials. By evaluating materials against the specifications provided, Covalent helps you prevent costly mistakes, failures, and compliance risks.
Contamination Analysis
Identify and resolve particulate, chemical, or organic contaminants that compromise material quality, yield, or device function.
Performance Optimization
Behind every high‑performing product is a series of deliberate choices about materials and process. Covalent partners with you to refine those choices, translating real‑world behavior into smarter tuning, higher yield, and greater reliability.
Surface & Interface Properties
Characterize coatings, thin films, and contamination with advanced material analysis to improve reliability and performance.
Mechanical Testing
Measure mechanical properties with our engineering testing expertise to validate material integrity and ensure optimal performance.
Chemical & Compositional Properties
The elements and structures within a material determine whether a product is safe, reliable, and built to last. Covalent’s chemical composition analysis services give you the clearest possible view of that chemistry.
Metals Testing
Identify and quantify metal composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties to ensure performance, reliability, and compliance for your application.
Coatings Testing
From corrosion resistance to biocompatibility, our testing ensures stronger products and global compliance.
Powder Testing
Covalent delivers specialized powder characterization services, including powder testing for particle size, shape, and flow. We support metal powder testing services and additive manufacturing powder testing to optimize performance in pharma, energy, and industrial applications.
Optical Characterization Testing
Covalent provides precise optical characterization services, delivering critical data on optical properties and thickness for materials, semiconductors, thin films and coatings. Our advanced optical characterization techniques ensure performance, reliability, and compliance.
Polymer & Plastic Analysis
Covalent offers comprehensive polymer & plastic testing lab services for polymer analysis, failure analysis, and quality control. Get fast, actionable data to ensure quality, performance, and compliance.
Atomic Resolution Electron Microscopy (AEM)
Images atoms and maps composition, bonding, and strain.
Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM)
Combines ion milling and electron imaging for nanoscale analysis.
Precession Electron Diffraction (PED)
PED is a TEM-based technique that rotates the electron beam for more precise crystallography at the nanoscale.
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Images surface topography and composition with electrons.
Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM)
Provides atomic-scale imaging and spectroscopic mapping.
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
Images atomic structure, defects, interfaces with sub-nm resolution.
Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR)
Rapid, non-destructive chemical identification.
Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES)
Measures Auger electrons for high-resolution surface analysis.
Dynamic Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (Dynamic SIMS)
Quantifies elements and isotopes with nanometer depth profiling.
Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA)
Quantifies elemental composition at the micron scale.
Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF)
Quick, non-destructive material composition & thickness analysis.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
Rapid, non-destructive molecular fingerprinting across materials.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
Identifies and quantifies small organic molecules in mixtures.
Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)
Separates molecules by size to determine polymer properties.
Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (GDOES)
Sputters surfaces to quantify composition & depth-profile layers.
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Measures trace elements with high accuracy.
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
Quantifies multiple elements at very low concentrations.
Ion Scattering Spectroscopy (ISS)
Identifies elements in the outermost atomic layer.
Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS)
Ultra-high-resolution elemental and isotopic imaging.
Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)
Quantifies elements via gamma rays from irradiated samples.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)
Determines molecular structure, composition, and dynamics.
Photo-induced Force Microscopy (PiFM)
Nanoscale chemical characterization & topography at sub-5nm.
Raman Spectroscopy
Measures inelastic photon scattering for chemical identification.
Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS)
Quantifies elemental composition and thin-film thickness.
Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS)
Ultra-sensitive surface analysis with chemical imaging & depth profiling.
Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS)
Determines work function and valence electronic structure of surfaces.
Ultraviolet Visible Near Infrared Spectrophotometry (UV-Vis-NIR)
Measures absorbance, reflectance, and transmittance (175–3300 nm).
Wavelength Dispersive X‑Ray Fluorescence (WDXRF)
Non-destructive elemental composition & thin-film analysis.
White Light Interferometry (WLI)
Measures surface topography with sub-nanometer vertical resolution.
X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS)
Analyzes electronic structure of atoms and molecules.
X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
Non-destructive analysis of crystal phases, lattice, and strain.
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)
Measures surface elemental composition and chemical states.
Cathodoluminescence (CL)
Maps bandgap, defects, and strain with SEM correlation.
Digital Optical Microscopy
Rapid, high-resolution imaging of a sample.
Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
Quantifies particle size and uniformity in minutes.
Infra-Red (IR) Thermography
Visualizes surface temperatures to reveal defects & hotspots.
Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM)
Non-destructive 3D imaging of sample surfaces.
SNOM-Raman
Maps nanoscale stress and chemistry with 100 nm resolution.
Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (SE)
Measures thin-film thickness & optical properties.
Structured Light Profilometry
Creates precise 3D models without contact or damage.
Capillary Flow Porometry (CFP)
Characterizes through-pores in wettable, permeable materials.
Dye & Pry Testing
Reveals PCB solder joint cracks & defects.
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)
Characterizes thermal and mechanical properties of soft materials.
IPC Compliance Testing (IPC Compliance)
Verifies IPC-A-610 quality to reduce defects.
Mechanical Cross-Section Analysis (X-Section)
Uncovers microstructures and defects causing performance issues.
Nano-Scratch Test
Measures lateral/frictional force between tip & sample.
Nanoindentation
Determines mechanical properties including hardness & modulus.
Pendant Drop Surface Tension Measurement
Provides accurate liquid property analysis for surface tension.
Rheology
Evaluates material behavior during processing, storage, and use.
Tap Density Analysis
Ratio of sample mass to volume after mechanical tapping.
Tensile Testing
Measures material behavior under axial stretching (tension).
Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA)
Measures material dimension changes with temp, time, or force.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
Quantifies heat flow for material optimization.
Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
Measures material mass changes with temperature or time.
2D X-Ray Inspection
Delivers clear internal views of complex electronics.
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
Maps nanoscale topography and material properties with a sharp probe.
Chromatic Confocal Profilometry & 3D Surface Profiling
Fast, non-contact 3D surface measurements.
Gas Adsorption Porosimetry
Characterizes porous materials.
Gas Pycnometry
Fast, precise measurements of true volume, density, and porosity.
Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analysis (LD-PSA)
Analyzes particle sizes by measuring light scattering.
Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM)
Locates internal flaws like cracks, voids, and delamination.
X-ray Computed Tomography (Micro-CT)
Non-contact, non-destructive 2D/3D images at micron scale.
X-ray Reflectometry (XRR)
Optimized scans tailored to each sample for best measurements.
Zeta Potential
Electric potential at the slipping plane of the EDL.
4-Point Probe (4PP) Measurement
Measures sheet resistance and resistivity accurately.
Scanning Capacitance Microscopy (SCM)
Maps charge carrier polarity/distribution in semiconductors.
Surface Free Energy (SFE)
Quantitative insight into surface energy for adhesion and coatings.
Water Contact Angle
Quantitative insight into surface interactions affecting adhesion.
Tackling Miniaturization Challenges: High-Resolution Interface Analysis in Advanced Semiconductor Packaging
In this session, Dr. Naohiko Kawasaki from Toray Research Center (Japan) introduces powerful analytical techniques for investigating the chemical and…
Precision in Thin Film Metrology: Techniques, Challenges, and Real-World Applications
Join us for an exciting episode where we will dive deep into thin film measurement methods! Our experts, Dr. Lyle…
Gas Sampling and Analysis of 18650 Lithium Ion Batteries by GC-ToF-MS
Introducing Nanoindentation ‘Sinus Mode’ for Dynamic Mechanical Analysis on Polymer Coatings
Covalent Welcomes Richard Gottscho as Board Member
Sunnyvale, CA – 2/26/2025 – Covalent, a leading provider of cutting-edge metrology and analytical services, is pleased to announce that…
Covalent Appoints Dr. Fuhe Li as Vice President and General Manager of Materials, Chemistry, and Surfaces (MCS) Analysis Division
Solving Bond Uniformity Challenges with SAM
These excerpts of Covalent Academy's webinar on porous materials characterization introduce 3 of the most common techniques in this field.
Failure Analysis in Action: Fracture Analysis of Biomedical Appliances with Advanced Microscopy
Covalent transforms complex material testing data into clear, actionable insights. From failure analysis to advanced compositional studies, we partner with innovators across industries to accelerate development and optimize performance.
We’re scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers first. Over 70% of us hold PhDs or advanced degrees. Every engagement is led by credentialed experts who combine deep technical knowledge with practical solutions tailored to your toughest challenges.
Trusted by 1,500+ global manufacturers, OEMs, and R&D teams, Covalent builds long-term partnerships that deliver results at scale. Backed by $25M in tools and ISO-accredited methods, we focus on just one thing: data you can act on with confidence.
Join a team that's shaping the future of material insights. At Covalent, you'll work with world-class scientists, cutting-edge technology, and global industry leaders, all while making a measurable impact.
Quality is foundational to our work. Covalent is ISO accredited and operates under a rigorous quality management system. Our processes, data, and results meet internationally recognized standards so you can trust every measurement and insight we deliver.
Video
Learn about the fundamentals of S/TEM analysis with the Talos F200X: imaging modes and signals, detector setup, and principles of operation.
These videos are excerpted from the joint webinar hosted by Covalent and our partner, ThermoFisher Scientific. Videos in the Library:
eBook
This eBook will help you gain great insights into SEM operation and optimization so you can feel more confident in your future SEM projects.
eBrief
Learn about the different types of detectors on SEM tools as well as four operational ideas to remember to optimize your SEM analysis.
HORIBA's Pulsed RF GDOES gives comprehensive element analysis by combining high-res GD optics with a pulsed-RF plasma source...
Whitepaper
This white paper summarizes how the high spatial resolution of the NanoSIMS 50L system facilitates dopant carrier distribution analysis.
