More than 20% of Progold’s resources are dedicated to research and development. New solutions and alternative answers for the market needs give life to new high performing products. We work on daily research projects to support our customers and to reach our ambitious goal of sharing the maximum of our experience and know-how. Progold is a perfect mix of skilled resources and advanced instruments. Each alloy and master alloy results from several tests that are both quantitative and qualitative analyses.

It represents the basis of each research project. To achieve what the human eye cannot and to understand causes and effects. Owing to the digital microscope, the defects and physical characteristics of the samples can be analyzed up to a 2000x enlargement!

The scanning electron microscope helps in analyzing the sample morphology of an element at a microscopic level by verifying its characteristics. Coupled with an EDS (Energy Dispersive X-RAY Spectroscopy), it is used to characterize solid substances and to carry elemental analyses qualitatively. The SEM-EDS becomes fundamental to obtain both a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the alloys as well as the purity of the raw materials.

We use the dilatometer to evaluate (with extreme precision) the dimensional variation of the alloys during the solid-liquid transformation and its linear thermal dilation coefficient. It is used to verify changes in density, phase transitions and influence of eventual additives. It allows the estimation of the percentage shrinkage each alloy presents during the transition from liquid to solid. Which in turn determines the suitability of each alloy for different production processes.

The thermogravimetric analysis, the differential thermal analysis and the differential scanning calorimetry analysis are used by our R&D team to obtain very precise information regarding the temperature at which some thermal events occur and to determine their nature. One example would the liquidus and solidus temperature, parameters of extreme importance during casting.

The profilometer becomes essential to measure and mathematically quantify the roughness of a surface. This type of instrument is used for the development and analysis of the prototypes produced by the Progol3D^® team through the SLM (selective laser melting).

It is based on the CIELab system, through which it is possible to describe the color using a 3D space and mathematical coordinates. The reports give back the values of 3 different chromatographic coordinates (L*, a*, b*) that help evidence even the minimal color differences between alloys of the same color.

Tomography is used in our laboratories to examine the homogeneity and the presence of bubbles inside solder pastes, and to inspect through x-rays the pieces produced in 3D printing in Titanium. Thanks to this resource it is possible to get information about density, porosity and cracks also inside the material.

Thank to this analysis it is possible to determine the hardness of a material through a non-destructive analysis (the sample maintains its integrity and functionality). The output, measured in Vickers, is given by the ratio of the applied force and the surface of the mark left by the indention.

The tensile test is fundamental for alloy . It consist in a linear load that is applied on a sample, which gradually increases until the sample reaches its fractures point. The results give the main mechanical characteristics of the tested precious alloy.

Through the XENON TEST the jewels are exposed to a light that recreates the same ageing effect given by either solar radiation or artificial light but in an accelerated way in order to evaluate how the jewels change color over time.

Thanks to the deep drawing test we measure deep drawing characteristics of a material. This is very important to evaluate the suitability of a precious alloys in productions of jewels that is to be used un deep drawing productions.

The chemical analysis through X-ray is very common. In Progold Lab we use the ED-XRF technique for a QC of ready-made products and thus intercepting possible mistakes made by the operators. For the QC of all our alloys and master alloys we use more sophisticated WD-XRF technique,. We also determine the gold, silver and platinum fineness of our XBRAX^® solder pastes and of the 3D printed jewels.

The Inductive Coupled Plasma Spectrometry is an analytical technique that allows the determination of a considerable number of elements within a given composition. This technique is capable of carrying our both quantitative and qualitative analyses.

Thanks to the use of the Spectrolab it is possible to carry out detailed quantitative and qualitative analysis; it is particularly precise in detecting impurities. The analysis is fast and takes place directly on solid samples.

Thanks to its 3D digital inspection system, it guarantees a three-dimensional vision of the piece under analysis.
It enables the depth of the part to be appreciated and defects in 3D printed objects to be found more easily.

At ProgoldLab, a new instrument has been added to our fleet of XRF machines. The Fischerscope X-RAY is a new spectrometer that uses the ED-XRF technique for qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis and also offers the possibility to be calibrated to better limit matrix effects and increase accuracy. It is used to check incoming raw materials as well as to verify the composition of sales kits for both our alloys and master alloys and our solder pastes.