# SEM & EDS in Failure Analysis: Let the Sample Tell the Story

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/corrosion-chronicles-6468416/sem-eds-in-failure-analysis-let-the-sample-tell-the-story
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/corrosion-chronicles-6468416/sem-eds-in-failure-analysis-let-the-sample-tell-the-story.md
Podcast: [Corrosion Chronicles](https://stenobird.com/podcast/corrosion-chronicles-6468416)
Published: 2026-06-03T14:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://mtipodcast.podbean.com/e/sem-eds-in-failure-analysis-let-the-sample-tell-the-story/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/g9fpvznk5rp9snhy/MTI_ep37.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/corrosion-chronicles-6468416/episodes/sem-eds-in-failure-analysis-let-the-sample-tell-the-story
Duration seconds: 3774

## Resource

In this episode, failure analysis expert Tedd Anastas of Anastas Technical Services and Brent Moore of Moore Analytical join co-host Heather Allain and guest host Andrew Rentsch, Materials Engineer at Huntsman Corporation, for a practical discussion on scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and their role in failure analysis and materials investigations. The conversation explores how SEM differs from optical microscopy, how SEM paired with EDS can reveal important chemical and microstructural clues, and why EDS results are often best treated as qualitative indicators rather than precise quantitative measurements. Tedd and Brent discuss detection limits, normalized compositions, false positives, fatigue striations, fracture surface interpretation, contaminants, inclusions, non-metallic materials, sputter coating, and elemental mapping. Along the way, they share case study examples, practical investigation tips, and a few unexpected detours involving dinosaur eggs and wig hair. This episode is sponsored by Tricor Metals and Rolled Alloys. Corrosion Chronicles is produced by Association Briefings.

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## Transcript

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