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Petrographic Analysis

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Petrographic Analysis

SOCOTEC offers advanced petrographic analysis to diagnose material performance, durability risks, and root causes in concrete, aggregates, rock, and other construction materials across the United States.

Enhancing Material Performance with Petrographic Analysis

When built assets deteriorate unexpectedly, understanding the root cause is essential to preventing costly failures and ensuring long-term durability. Petrographic analysis provides the microscopic insights needed to identify material defects, reactions, and structural vulnerabilities that threaten your project's integrity.

At SOCOTEC, our state-of-the-art petrographic laboratory combines advanced microscopy, rigorous ASTM petrographic analysis procedures, and experienced petrographers to deliver actionable insights for owners, engineers, contractors, and public agencies in the US. We help clients understand what went wrong, why it happened, and how to move forward with confidence.

Our Petrographic Analysis Lab

SOCOTEC's petrographic laboratory utilizes stereomicroscopy and reflected/transmitted polarized-light microscopy to observe the microstructure and compositional characteristics of construction materials. Our experienced team of petrographers can:

  • Conduct petrographic analysis to identify deleterious materials and structural vulnerabilities
  • Perform petrographic concrete analysis to assess cement paste quality, aggregate characteristics, and potential distress mechanisms
  • Execute ASTM petrographic analysis following standardized procedures for reliable, defensible results
  • Provide petrographic analysis microscopic evaluation using advanced imaging techniques
  • Complete comprehensive petrographic analysis sample preparation for optimal diagnostic accuracy

Our petrographic analysis lab examines a wide range of materials:

  • Petrographic concrete analysis (new and aged)
  • Petrographic analysis of mortar (modern and historic)
  • Grout and cement paste
  • Concrete-masonry units (CMUs)
  • Rock and stone - petrographic of rock and petrographic analysis of stone for geological assessment
  • Petrographic analysis of aggregates (fine and coarse aggregates): detailed petrographic analysis of aggregates to identify reactive components
  • Brick and masonry materials

  • Chemical reactions and attacks: alkali–silica reaction, alkali–carbonate reaction, internal and external chemical attack
  • Surface distress and material loss: scaling, spalling, delamination
  • Durability and environmental exposure: freeze/thaw durability, physical and chemical weathering, damage caused by environmental hazards
  • Structural performance concerns: low compressive strength, cracking and micro-cracking
  • Construction-related deficiencies: batching, placement, and curing issues

Beyond petrographic examination, our laboratory provides:

  • Hardened air void content analysis to evaluate freeze-thaw resistance
  • Water-soluble chloride testing to assess corrosion risk
  • Aggregate composition analysis to identify potentially reactive components
  • Thin section preparation and analysis for detailed microscopic evaluation (library of over 1,500 thin-section samples)
  • X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for identification of minerals
  • X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) for identification of elements

petrographic analysis by petrographer reviewing samples under microscope

Project Types and Industries

SOCOTEC conducts petrographic analysis for a wide range of projects and industries where material performance is critical:

  • Transportation infrastructure: highway and bridges structures experiencing premature deterioration, pavement and concrete roadway assessment for DOT projects, parking structures with scaling, spalling, or cracking issues, transit assets
  • Industrial and energy facilities: power generation facilities with concrete degradation, water treatment plants and industrial infrastructure, marine structures exposed to harsh environmental conditions
  • Commercial, residential, and mixed-use buildings: building foundations and structural elements showing distress, facade and exterior masonry analysis for restoration projects
  • Historic structures and preservation projects requiring petrographic analysis of mortar and stone
  • Government and state agency programs
  • Legal and insurance-driven forensic investigations: materials failure mechanisms and contributing factors, construction defect litigation support, quality control failures during construction, long-term durability assessments

When to Conduct Petrographic Analysis?

Petrographic analysis is a powerful tool for diagnosing materials issues. You should consider conducting petrographic analysis if the following situations occur.

  • Cracking or micro-cracking without obvious external cause
  • Delamination, scaling, or spalling of concrete surfaces
  • Pop-outs or surface deterioration
  • Map cracking patterns suggesting internal reactions

  • Concrete exhibits low compressive strength below design specifications
  • Freeze/thaw durability is questioned in cold climates
  • Materials show signs of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) or alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR)
  • Unexpected deterioration occurs in recently constructed projects

Use petrography as a tool for:

  • Pre-construction aggregate evaluation to prevent future issues
  • Compliance verification with ASTM standards for petrographic analysis
  • Historical material characterization for restoration projects

Petrographic analysis forensic engineering provides defensible documentation:

  • Post-Construction Defects: Distress investigation and root cause analysis
  • Construction Dispute Resolution: product performance claim or litigation support
  • Rehabilitation: Material characterization before repair design

petrographic analysis

Why Choose SOCOTEC for Petrographic Analysis

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Advanced Petrographic Laboratory

SOCOTEC operates a state-of-the-art petrographic analysis lab with extensive thin-section libraries and advanced microscopy techniques.

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Proven Forensic Expertise

Our petrographers support complex investigations, disputes, and forensic engineering cases with defensible, well-documented findings.

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Practical, Actionable Reporting

Every petrographic analysis report is written to support real-world decisions, not just laboratory observations.

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Trusted Regional and National Partner

From New England and Florida to nationwide projects, SOCOTEC delivers consistent quality, responsiveness, and trusted expertise.

Ready to Solve Your Material Performance Project?

Don't let material failures compromise your project.

FAQ - Petrographic Testing

Petrographic analysis is the microscopic examination of construction materials—such as concrete, rock, stone, and mortar—to evaluate composition, texture, microstructure, and distress mechanisms.

Using specialized petrographic microscopes and thin section preparation, our experts identify mineral constituents, pore structures, and potential deleterious reactions that affect material performance. This information provides critical insights into material quality and long-term durability.

SOCOTEC employs multiple advanced techniques:

  • Stereomicroscopy for macroscopic evaluation
  • Polarized-light microscopy (transmitted and reflected) for mineral identification
  • Thin section analysis using specialized petrographic microscopes
  • Air void analysis to assess freeze-thaw resistance
  • Chemical testing including chloride content and alkali reactivity
  • Digital imaging for comprehensive documentation

All methods follow ASTM petrographic analysis standards to ensure reliable, defensible results.

The cost of petrographic analysis varies based on several factors including sample quantity, testing scope, turnaround requirements, and project complexity. Contact our team for a detailed quote tailored to your specific project needs—we provide transparent pricing and flexible service packages.

Yes. Petrographic analysis is one of the most effective tools for identifying materials failure, deterioration mechanisms, and contributing environmental or construction factors. This information enables informed decisions about repair strategies and future prevention measures.

Petrographic analysis sample preparation is a precise process requiring specialized equipment and expertise. SOCOTEC follows ASTM protocols:

  1. Sample collection from representative locations
  2. Vacuum impregnation with epoxy resin
  3. Precision cutting and mounting
  4. Grinding to exact thickness (typically 20-30 microns for thin sections)
  5. Polishing to optical quality
  6. Staining (when required for specific identification)

Proper preparation is critical for accurate analysis—our laboratory maintains strict quality control throughout the process.

SOCOTEC's comprehensive petrographic analysis report includes:

  • Detailed microscopic observations and photomicrographs
  • Material composition and characteristics
  • Identification of deleterious materials or reactions
  • Assessment of air void system (when applicable)
  • Discussion of findings and implications
  • Professional conclusions and recommendations
  • Reference to applicable ASTM standards

Reports are written in clear, accessible language while maintaining technical rigor required for engineering decisions and legal proceedings.

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