Petrographic Services Overview

The Petrographic Services Division at Schmitt Technical Services, Inc. (STS) is considered to be one of the burgeoning petrographic laboratories in the continental United States. We are recognized for our ability to provide highly reliable petrographic services at very competitive rates. Petrographic Services is capable of handling the most demanding of projects, large or small, including those requiring an emergency response.

The Petrographic Services Division is comprised of three petrographers, petrographic preparation labs, a multi-station microscopy laboratory with a state-of-the-art computerized linear travers/point counting apparatus to determine hardened air content and an instrumentation laboratory equipped with the latest Bruker D2 Phaser X-Ray Diffractometer for particle and compound identification.

Below are just a few of the services our Petrography Division routinely provides:

• construction materials consulting and evaluation
• petrographic examination of hardened concrete, building materials and products, construction aggregates, building stone, masonry, shotcrete, stucco and others to evaluate constituents, properties and determine causes of deterioration.
• investigation and evaluation of alkali-aggregate reaction
• troubleshooting concrete problems in the field
• materials quality evaluations
• new product development and R & D
• specialized testing of concrete and concrete aggregates

Schmitt Technical Services infuses each project with a vast amount of experience in the petrographic analysis of samples from construction. Schmitt's protocol emanates from the philosophy that each and every sample must be carefully and cost-effectively analyzed. To ensure the quality of our results, Schmitt Technical Services has developed and implemented comprehensive techniques, procedures, report formats, and sample archiving systems. Clients rely on Schmitt for accurate results and prompt turnaround times.

Petrographic work at Schmitt Technical Services, Inc. is done according to the following industry standards and protocols:

• ASTM C 856, "Standard Practice for Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete"
• ASTM C 457, "Standard Test Method for Microscopical Determination of Parameters of the Air-Void System in Hardened Concrete"
• Federal Highway Administration's Publication No. FHWA-HRT-04-150, "Petrographic Methods of Examining Hardened Concrete: A Petrographic Manual."
• ASTM C 295, "Standard Guide for Petrographic Examination of Aggregates for Concrete"
• ASTM C1324, "Standard Test Method for Examination and Analysis of Hardened Masonry Mortar"

Petrographic Services Staff understand that reports must be as thorough and definitive as the people, methods, and equipment that are employed to produce petrographic data, observations and photomicrographs. Each report must be presented in a format that is accessible and understandable to clients, but also must be easily understood by people possessing no prior knowledge of petrography or petrographic methods. Accordingly, Schmitt Technical Services has developed standard report formats designed to be used by all levels of personnel and reporting responsibilities.

Schmitt Technical Services, Inc. is the experienced, practical and responsive alternative to a client's consulting needs. We have assisted owners, consultants, government, contractors, asphalt producers, concrete producers, mining companies, attorneys, appraisers, engineers, and architects.

Staining of Building Stone

FAQ

Every project is different. That requires flexibility in the development of a testing protocol best suited for each and every project and for each and every client. So, the best way to answer any questions is to contact me by phone or email with any questions, concerns or potential projects that may benefit from petrographic examination. I always make time for everyone who contacts me, so please do. I look forward to your call.

Jim

Field Evaluation and Testing of Pavement, Slabs & Floor Coverings

ASTM C457 Air-Void Analysis of Hardened Concrete