FROM ANALYSIS TO RELIABILITY

Technical assessment of materials and operating conditions.
Why does a screw wear faster than expected? When premature wear occurs, the cause is rarely limited to the simple abrasion or corrosion.

In real operating conditions, wear is often the result of a combined effect of polymer characteristics, screw geometry, material selection and process parameters. Focusing on a single variable generally leads to partial analyses and corrective actions that do not address the real source of the problem.

Moving beyond assumptions with XRF analysis
In our daily technical activity, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis is used whenever necessary, as a diagnostic tool to further investigate the origin of wear phenomena. By means of XRF analysis, we can accurately identify the actual chemical composition of the component under examination, verifying the correspondence between the declared material, the applied surface treatment and the real operating environment. This makes possible to evaluate whether wear is primarily influenced by:

• the processed polymer and its additives
• the screw profile and functional geometry
• the selected steel grade
• the applied welding alloy or surface treatment

Since wear mechanisms are often generated by incompatibilities between these factors, rather than by operating time alone.

Why material identification matters
A precise identification of the base material and applied alloys has direct implications on component performance and durability. The use of an inappropriate welding alloy can significantly reduce the component lifetime. Different steels respond differently to thermal and surface treatments, affecting hardness, adhesion and wear resistance.
Regeneration and redesign activities must therefore be based on verified material data, not assumptions or standard practices. Without a clear understanding of material composition, regeneration risks restoring dimensions without restoring functional reliability.

From regeneration to process optimization
This analytical approach allows Euroviti not only to regenerate worn components, but also to define technically optimized solutions for subsequent production cycles. Based on XRF analysis results, it becomes possible to:

• select the most suitable welding alloy for rebuilding
• assess the necessity and type of thermal or surface treatment
• evaluate potential modifications to screw geometry according to real operating conditions

This results in regenerated components that are better aligned with the actual process, improving resistance to wear and operational stability