Materials Engineer Specialising in Materials Failure Analysis.
First-class degree in Forensic Engineering and a Master’s in Steel Technology
Nationwide and International
Ms Sarah Bagnall is a Materials engineer specialising in materials failure analysis particularly for the petrochemical, process and power generation industries. She is currently the Director of the Consultancy Services at R-TECH Materials, based in Port Talbot, South Wales.
Sarah has broad experience with a wide range of engineering components, metallic and non-metallic materials, and industries. She has conducted over 700 failure investigations covering both metals and polymer and composite materials. Sarah is a specialist in the thermal degradation of austenitic steels.
In addition to failure analysis, her role also includes product development support, liability concerns and general material quality issues. Sarah has experience in a wide range of metallic materials including carbon and stainless steels, copper-based alloys, nickel-based alloys, titanium, aluminium, and tantalum. Sarah also has experience in polymer and composite materials and recently acted as an expert witness for the failure investigation of GRP water tank panels.
Over the last 13 years, Sarah has developed specialist expertise in the thermal degradation of austenitic steels, which originated from a Masters' degree that focused on the development and relationship between the microstructural evolution of austenitic steels and mechanical properties. As part of the Master's, Sarah developed a microstructural classification system for austenitic steels, from which a research paper was published and now used as reference. Following this, Sarah project managed two Innovate UK funded research projects, with a combined quarter of a million value, one of which was in partnership with EDF Energy to develop a condition-based Structural Integrity Remaining-Life model for austenitic stainless steels, from a which a second research paper was published.
Sarah has experience and expertise in undertaking expert witness cases, holding the Cardiff University Bond Solon Expert Witness Civil Certificate (2022) and serves as the Chair of the Wales & South West England branch for the Institute of Corrosion. She also sits on the board of the British Stainless Steel Association. She has published papers in 2014 and 2017.
Cardiff University Bond Solon Expert Witness Civil Certificate (2022)
Chartered Engineer and professional member of the Institute of IOM3, Chair of the Wales & South West Institute of Corrosion Branch.