Please use the dropdown menus below to find the correct contact information.
Acoustics, noise, vibrations...
Mechanisms of vibration and sound generation, propagation of sound waves, effects of noise on the population.
For requests related to indoor noise problems, please contact Stefan Schönwald:
For requests related to outdoor noise problems, please contact Jean-Marc Wunderli:
Building physics, mechanical analyses...
Concrete & asphalt...
Research, development and testing on cementitious and bituminous materials.
For more information and contact persons, please visit the services website:
https://www.empa.ch/web/s308/services
Metallic alloys & composites / mechanical systems & components...
Engineering, dynamic load tests on large test facilities, endurance strength, calibration of test machinery and facilities, measurement technology.
- Load monitoring / Service load measurements
- Fatigue / static / impact testing of components / structures / assemblies
- Material characterization
- Numerical simulation (Finite Element Modelling FEM)
- Failure analysis
Calibration...
Accredited testing and calibration laboratory (STS 0044 & SCS 0069) of mechanical equipment at Empa Dübendorf or on-site at your premises.
For more information and contact persons, please visit the services website:
www.empa.ch/web/s602/research
Corrosion, failure & fatigue...
Corrosion & materials integrity...
- Investigation and assessment of corrosion damage
- Failure analysis and expert reports
- Consultancy mandates for new buildings and repairs
- Physical-chemical analyses of corrosion-promoting substances
- Corrosion of water-bearing systems (drinking water pipes, heating systems, sprinkler systems)
- Condition assessment of safety-relevant components (anchors and fastenings) in building construction and civil engineering (swimming pools, tunnels, facades)
- Corrosion tests (salt spray, condensation water, customer-specific test arrangements)
- Fracture analysis of components (fractography)
- Characterization of deposits/discolorations on surfaces (surface analysis)
- Electrochemical investigations (corrosion, electroplating, anodizing and local hydrogen measurements)
- Analysis of consequential damage from fires and chemical accidents
For more information, please visit the services website:
https://www.empa.ch/web/s202/services
For requests, please contact:
Corrosion protection – organic coatings and metallic coatings...
- Physical-chemical characterization (structure, layer thicknesses, composition)
- Resistance of organic coatings (corrosion testing)
For more information, please visit the services website:
https://www.empa.ch/web/s202/services
For requests, please contact:
Biomedical systems & implants...
- Fatigue / static / impact testing
- Material characterization
- Biomedical engineering
- Numerical simulation (Finite Element Modelling FEM)
- Dynamic X-ray imaging of joint kinematics
- Failure analysis
Plastics & organic/polymer materials...
- Functional polymers / analytics
- NMR analysis of polymers and low molecular weight compounds (https://www.empa.ch/web/s209/nmr)
- Composition of polymers and low molecular weight compounds (FTIR, molecular weight via GPC, dispersity index, additives via XRF, density, water content, etc.)
- Thermal properties of polymers and low molecular weight compounds (DSC, TGA, thermal stability)
- Electrical properties (conductivity, breakdown voltage of thin films)
- Mechanical properties of polymers (tensile elongation, hardness)
- Dielectric properties of polymers and low molecular weight compounds (complex dielectric constant as a function of temperature and frequency)
- Optical properties of polymers and low molecular weight compounds (absorption, transmission, reflection, refractive index of films)
- Confocal microscopy (surface analysis, roughness)
- Assessment of plastic underfloor heating pipes
- Particle analysis (polymers, low molecular weight compounds) using FTIR microscopy
Manufacturing...
- Coating compentence center
For more information, please visit this website: https://www.empa.ch/web/coating-competence-center/
- Joining technologies (soldering/brazing, sintering, and related processes)
- Consulting, failure analysis, feasibility studies, R&D projects with industry partners, joining of prototypes
- Topics: mechanical, thermal, and chemical integrity (corrosion) of joined assemblies, joint design, thermal stress management, thermal management, surface engineering and tailoring of interfaces
For more information, please visit the services website:
https://www.empa.ch/web/s202/services
For requests, please contact:
Material & pollutant analysis...
Concrete & asphalt...
Research, development and testing on cementitious and bituminous materials.
For more information and contact persons, please visit the services website:
https://www.empa.ch/web/s308/services
Material and alloy analysis (metals & plastics)...
- Microstructure analysis of steel and other metals (metallography)
- Mobile alloy analysis and hardness measurement
- Alloy analysis (laboratory analyses)
- Plastics analysis
For more information, please visit the services website:
https://www.empa.ch/web/s202/services
For requests, please contact:
Organic chemical analyses...
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
- Gas Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (GC-HRMS)
- Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Organic pollutant analysis...
- Sampling and quantitative analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POP) in the environment and in materials.
- Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (commonly known as dioxins).
- Halogenated flame retardants (e.g., PBDE).
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- Bisphenol A.
- Urine analysis for pentachlorophenol.
- Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls in blood, breast milk, environmental, and material samples.
- Investigation of indoor air quality.
- Consultation and analysis regarding black apartments (black magic dust) and the fogging phenomenon.
- Qualitative screening analyses using GC-MS and GC-HRMS.
- Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
- Analysis of fire damage involving toxic compounds.
- Toxicology and ecotoxicology.
Plastics & organic/polymer materials...
- Functional polymers / analytics
- NMR analysis of polymers and low molecular weight compounds (https://www.empa.ch/web/s209/nmr)
- Composition of polymers and low molecular weight compounds (FTIR, molecular weight via GPC, dispersity index, additives via XRF, density, water content, etc.)
- Thermal properties of polymers and low molecular weight compounds (DSC, TGA, thermal stability)
- Electrical properties (conductivity, breakdown voltage of thin films)
- Mechanical properties of polymers (tensile elongation, hardness)
- Dielectric properties of polymers and low molecular weight compounds (complex dielectric constant as a function of temperature and frequency)
- Optical properties of polymers and low molecular weight compounds (absorption, transmission, reflection, refractive index of films)
- Confocal microscopy (surface analysis, roughness)
- Assessment of plastic underfloor heating pipes
- Particle analysis (polymers, low molecular weight compounds) using FTIR microscopy
Reliability of electrical devices/components & batteries...
Reliability electric/electronic devices/components, safety analyses, failure analyses, battery tests.
For requests, please contact:
Textiles & fibers & FIFA quality programme for footballs...
- Textile analytics
- Weather, heat & flame, comfort (thermal and wearing)
- Consulting
- Ball tests (footballs/volleyballs/handballs)
For request, please contact:
Further information can be found on the service website:
https://www.empa.ch/web/s401/services
Other inquiries...
If you have not found a suitable topic on the list, please send us a message at .
Please note the following:
- Fire tests: Empa no longer performs fire tests for structural elements. For these services, please contact the Schweizerisches Institut für Prüfung, Inspektion und Zertifizierung: https://www.sipiz.ch/de/ We do, however, perform fire tests for textiles - see "Textiles & fibers & FIFA quality programme for footballs" above.
- Asbestos: Empa no longer provides asbestos testing. For these services, please consult the Forum Asbest Schweiz website, where experts are listed: https://forum-asbest.ch/handeln
- Test materials for washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers: Empa no longer offers this service. Please see the Swissatest AG website: https://www.swissatest.ch/en/index.htm
- Legal disputes: In cases of dispute, Empa will only provide expert opinions on behalf of judicial and police authorities or with the written consent of all parties reasonably expected to be involved in the (potential) dispute. Expert opinions in cases that could potentially lead to warranty, guarantee or compensation claims will be handled in the same way as expert opinions in cases of dispute.