Frontier Scientific Testing & Research Co., Ltd. (FST&R) has an extensive scope of non-metallic and composites testing capabilities, customizable to customer specifications and industry applications.

Non-metallic and composite materials are becoming ubiquitous in industry applications including aerospace, automotive, architecture and infrastructure, energy and power generation, marine and military, and sports and recreation for its lightweight durability, flexible applications, and reinforced complexity. FST&R's customizable composites testing provides the resources to advance materials to help reduce production costs and material weight, and increase durability, functionality, and strength.

Many composites are made from a polymer matrix that is reinforced with an engineered, artificial or natural fiber (such as aramid, carbon, glass, etc.) or other reinforced materials. This polymer matrix protects fibers from external, environmental damage as well as transfers the load between the fibers. The fibers within the polymer matrix provide strength and stiffness to reinforce the matrix – ultimately resisting cracks and fractures.

Customizable Composites Testing Capabilities

FST&R’s substantial onsite capabilities allow for customization of each project to your composite materials and mechanical specifications. We provide mechanical testing of composites, thermal analysis of composites, physical properties analysis of composites, and customized and standardized composites testing solutions.

FST&R provides unique customer advantages in composites and non-metallic materials testing, including custom analyzation, superior turnaround time, and an extensive scope of composites testing.

Composites Testing Competitive Advantage

Custom Analyzation - We design and write our proprietary software to analyze your test results.

Superior Turnaround Time - To ensure the best turnaround time on your projects, we design and machine our specialized fixtures. Expedited services are available, ask us how.

Customizable Test Setups and Extensive Scope – For your unique testing needs we have the resources, experience, and testing capacity to answer all of your materials questions for any application, customizable to your needs.

Test Variety of Sample Sizes - We have the flexibility and resources to accommodate a broad range of sample sizes.

Experts in Non-Metallic and Composites - We are specialists in conducting composites on many different types of specimens including adhesives, honeycombs, thermoset and thermoplastic composites, laminates, fiber reinforced composites, sandwich core materials, resins, and films.

Varying Temperature Ranges – We have the variety of customizable test setups and equipment at temperatures ranging from cryogenic to over 1600°C; as well as environmental conditions from high humidity and immersion in fluids.

On-Site Machine Shop – Our non-metallic and composites testing are supported by our internal machine shop, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to manufacture test specimens to meet any customer schedule.

Composites Mechanical Testing

FST&R’s composites center is equipped with an array of mechanical testing capabilities. The non-metallic composites center has hundreds of hydraulic, electro-mechanical, drop tower and pendulum impact test frames to test essential characteristics of composites materials. Non-metallic materials including plastics, composites, films and adhesives can be tested for strength, flexibility, fatigue and many other physical properties.

Determination of non-metallic and composite properties can be tested by:

•Tension Testing

•Compression Testing

•Shear Testing

•Double-Shear Testing

•Bend Testing

•Drop Weight Testing

•Dynamic Tear Testing

•IZOD Impact Testing

•And more…

In qualification and materials development, other test types are used to explore more complex properties, such as:

•Open Hole Tension/Compression (OHT/OFC) Testing

•Stress and Creep Rupture Testing

•Hydrogen Embrittlement Testing

•Inter-Laminar Fracture Toughness Testing

•Compression After Impact (CAI) Testing

•Fatigue Testing

•Static Notch Testing

•And more…

The Mechanical Testing Labs at FST&R test materials by customer specific specifications as well as all applicable ASTM or ISO Standard Test Methods.

Composites Thermal Analysis Testing

To strengthen the depth and quality of composites testing results, FST&R has a range of thermal analysis equipment at the Composites Center.   Our thermal analysis testing equipment includes:

Discovery Laser Flash System

The DLF system provides a high-performance laser-flash analysis over a wide range of test temperatures. With high precision, quick response, non-contact measurement of the sample surfaces, FST&R determines the material's ability to transfer and store heat through the laser pulse and ensuring your materials are fit for its intended application.

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)

The DMA machine measures the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of materials such as thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, ceramics, and metals. The DMA provides FST&R with the ability to perform glass transition tests on larger materials and increases the number of variables for those tests. The DMA machine has a fluctuating temperature range as well as humidity control and fluid bath options for additional testing information for your materials.

Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA)

Thermomechanical Analysis(TMA) which studies the properties of materials, such as dimension or mechanical properties, as they change with temperature. The process of thermomechanometry ensures a stress is applied to a material, and the resulting strain is measured while the material is subjected to a controlled temperature program, mimicking conditions that would affect a material in applications.

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

The DSC measures enthalpy internal energy changes in samples due to variations in their physical and chemical properties as a function of temperature or time, determining biochemistry and heat flow of materials. This instrument is built to measure energy directly and allows precise measurements of heat capacity, enabling measurements of characteristic properties of a material.   It can provide analysis of chemical reactions in materials such as fusion and crystallization events, glass transition temperatures and oxidation, ensuring safety screening, stability, and integrity of chemical composition.

Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)

Thermogravimetry, through the Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) device measures the change in weight of a sample as it is heated, cooled, or held at a constant temperature. It is primarily used to characterize material composition. Applications include plastics, elastomers and thermosets, mineral compounds, and ceramics. The TGA can provide information about chemical phenomena including chemisorption, desolvation and dehydration, decomposition, and solid-gas reactions such as oxidation or reduction.

Composites Physical Properties Testing

Frontier Scientific Testing & Research (FST&R) understands the physical complexities of composites. That is why the Composites Center has the capabilities to test the physical properties of these materials to help answer your materials development and application questions.

Through physical testing of composites, FST&R can provide more comprehensive composites testing results to determine whether a particular composites material is the right resource for your end applications and engineering specifications.

We provide an array of physical testing standardized tests on composites materials, including:   

•Hardness Testing – Barcol

•Hardness Testing – Durometer

•Density/Specific Gravity

•Resin/Fiber/Void Content by Acid

•Resin/Fiber/Void Content by Burn-off

•Resin/Fiber Content by Solvent Wash

•Water Absorption

•Volatile Content

•Gel Time

•Flow

•Fiber Areal Weight

•Prepreg Areal/Adhesive Film Weight

•Effects of Liquids

•Moisture Content

The table below is a sampling of the composites standardized tests that Frontier Scientific Testing and Research Corporation (FST&R) can perform, including the ability to test to individual customer specifications.