Asbestos analysis and characterisation

At the Experimental Techniques Centre, we provide accredited asbestos analysis using advanced electron microscopy, ensuring the highest level of certainty and credibility in our results.

The centre holds UKAS accreditation (ISO17025 - Lab number 2245) for asbestos characterisation using electron microscopy (EM). Most asbestos testing laboratories carry out their analysis using light microscopy, which is much quicker and less expensive, however, electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) remains the most comprehensive mode of analysis. The higher magnifications and resolutions, as well as the added elemental microanalysis, give this form of analysis the highest level of certainty and credibility.

Above are SEM images of Chrysotile (white) asbestos fibres (left) and talc (right). Chrysotile fibres are the finest of the regulated asbestos fibres, with diameters <200, potentially only resolvable using electron microscopy. Talc usually forms plate-like sheets, but the chemistry of the mineral has the potential to form asbestiform fibres during formation. 

The use of electron microscopy for asbestos analysis in the UK is still considered a deeper lever of analysis to complement the screening performed by optical microscopy. However, there is a growing trend in Europe to transition more of the analysis over to electron microscopy and the centre is seeing growth in this area of commercial testing. In terms of accreditation, the ETC is one of only a handful of locations that offer asbestos testing by EM and is currently the only university that holds UKAS ISO17025 for this work.

We are regularly approached by the industry for accredited asbestos testing by EM with typical customers ranging from labs that carry out optical microscopy to large decommissioning projects. Two of our scanning electron microscopes (IT200 and Supra) and one transmission electron microscope (2100F) are within the scope of UKAS work and undergo regular quality checks and calibrations

For more information or to discuss your testing requirement, please contact Dr Wayne Lam at wayne.lam@brunel.ac.uk

You can return to our main Commercial Services page to see what else we have that could support your requirements.