PerkinElmer and Covalent Partner to Tackle Material Failure Analysis

The initiative pairs PerkinElmer’s ICP-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS technology with Covalent’s laboratory expertise. By tracking ultra-trace elemental impurities and organic degradation, the companies intend to streamline quality control for manufacturers facing microscopic reliability challenges. Paul Davies, Vice President of North America at PerkinElmer, described Covalent as a critical partner for refining how these instruments are applied to raw material characterization and battery diagnostics.

For Covalent, the deal provides direct access to high-sensitivity tools capable of detecting metallic impurities before they compromise silicon wafers or electronic packages. CEO Craig Hunter noted that combining cutting-edge hardware with application-specific knowledge is necessary as product designs continue to shrink and densify. Beyond semiconductors, the workflow will be applied to electrolyte degradation profiling and the analysis of epoxy mold compounds, providing a deeper look into the chemical mechanisms behind component failure.