Material testing is vital in the verification process, determining the right material and reliability for an application as well as meeting regulatory and standardized requirements. The materials that go into all products, equipment and technologies we rely upon everyday must be thoroughly tested for safety, performance, and other criteria, before the first product can come off the assembly line.

The testing of materials helps engineers and designers to choose the best material for a particular use. Knowing a material's various characteristics, its strengths and weaknesses, its load, stress, and strain parameters under varying environmental conditions, is essential to safe, efficient and cost effective design.

FST&R has become a leader in Materials Testing for the Aerospace, Automotive, Power Generation, Oil & Gas and Equipment & Machinery Industries. With combined state-of-the-art Material Testing, Research & Development, Machining, and Heat-Treating capacity, FST&R is known for its quick turn-around times and uncompromised quality of results. FST&R can test many types of materials including: Common Steels, Stainless Steels, Tool Steel, Inconel, Aluminum, Copper, Titanium, Composites, Carbon-Fiber, Ceramic Matrix Composites, Polymers, and many others.

A material may be subjected to the following tests in order to determine physical properties and applications.

Mechanical Testing

At FST&R Tension and Compression tests are conducted on an impressive range of machines with capacities from 1kN to 2000kN. Testing is conducted in various atmospheres (Nitrogen, Vacuum, Corrosive Mediums) at cryogenic, ambient, and elevated temperatures (-196℃ to +1350℃). Our proprietary testing software provides the capability to run standard tests plus full stress/full strain tests at various strain rates, crosshead speeds, load ranges, and strain ranges as your requirements demand.

Fatigue Testing

FST&R is a leader in Fatigue Testing. FST&R evaluates the process of progressive localized permanent structural change occurring in a material subjected to conditions that produce fluctuating stresses and strains at some point or points. These stresses and strains may culminate in cracks or complete fracture after a sufficient number of fluctuations. FST&R has a large variety of machine and fixtures capable of custom setups and fixtures. Temperature ranges from Cryogenic to 1300℃. Services include high and low cycle fatigue, fasteners, cantilever fatigue and much more.

Stress and Creep Rupture Testing

FST&R provides Stress Rupture and Creep Testing services for customers requiring critical materials testing data about their product's performance over time. Stress Rupture and Creep Test are conducted at temperatures up to +1300℃ to either ASTM E139 (Creep and Smooth-Bar Stress Rupture) or ASTM E292 (notch tests). Temperature and creep readings are recorded by computers and continuously monitored to ensure the utmost accuracy.

Manufacturing Technologies

Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering laboratory at FST&R is staffed by specialists and engineers in product evaluation of actual prototype components and subassemblies. From custom design and fabrication of fixtures, to conducting the test, our mechanical engineers have the expertise and resources to assist our various testing departments in delivering data to customers in an efficient and timely manner.

Machine Shop

The high-technology, full-service Machine Shop at FST&R encompasses a clean, temperature-controlled environment, state-of-the-art equipment, and the ability to machine all test specimens onsite. In addition to machining standard specimens, our Machine Shop can custom-design and machine fixtures for testing finished parts, odd shapes, and difficult or exotic materials. FST&R's reputation for quality machining and superior turnaround times generates production work from other laboratories and mills. With advanced in-house capabilities, and substantial engineering experience, FST&R are experts in low-stress grinding and machining sub size specimens to very close tolerances.

Physical Metallurgical Testing

FST&R Metallurgical Materials Testing Laboratories are equipped with advanced SEM technology including light microscopes and metallographs using conventional and inverted stages used to characterize and photograph materials for General Microstructure, Micro-cleanliness, Macro/Grain Flow, Carbide Distribution, IGA/IGO, Decarburization, Alloy Depletion, Casting/Mold Reactions, Dendritic Arm Spacing, Statistical Area/Shape Analysis, Weld Evaluations and more. Our experienced technicians and metallurgists work closely with the analytical and physical testing groups to provide an overall view of material characteristics so that even the most difficult problems can be identified and solved quickly. Services include, general microstructure, macro/grain flow, alpha case, micro hardness, fractography, grain size, IGA/IGO/decarburization and more.

Chemical Analysis

FST&R leads in testing industry for its Chemical and Analytical Testing Laboratory utilizing conclusive spectrometer technology. Working in conjunction with ICP and Graphite Furnace AA ensures quick turnaround by eliminating the need for lengthy wet chemical tests. These state-of-the-art units provide increased analysis speed, element ranges, and sensitivity. Services include material-over checks, hydrogen over checks, referee testing, combustion, inert gas fusion, specification conformance unknown material identification and more.

Non-Metallic Materials Testing

Non-metallic materials including composites are becoming the preferred materials in many applications due to their variety of benefits compared to traditional materials. In many studies, composites materials are stronger, lighter, more durable and versatile than conventional materials such as steel, aluminum, wood, or granite. Composite materials offer an innovative approach to advance any industry with more cost-efficient and multifaceted solutions.

FST&R’s non-metallic testing provides you with the resources to advance your composite materials choices to help reduce production costs and material weight, and increase durability, functionality, and strength.