Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc (WMT&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. WMT&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.” 

Customizable Non-Metallic Testing Including Composites Testing Services Are Available Contact Us Today at 724-537-3131

• What Are Composites Materials?
• Why Use Composites Materials?
• Industry Applications
• Customizable Composites Testing Services
• Composites Mechanical Testing
• Composites Thermal Analysis Testing
• Composites Physical Properties Testing  
• Composites Standardized Tests and Individual Customer Specifications

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

Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc (WMT&R) conducts all composites testing at the dedicated Composites Center of Excellence. This state-of-the-art composites testing facility is Nadcap. A2LA ISO 17025 accredited and fully staffed with experienced, dedicated composites testing personnel. To learn more about our certificates and accreditations, please visit our accreditations page.

Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc (WMT&R) substantial onsite capabilities allow for customization of each project to your composites 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.

Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc (WMT&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.

Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc (WMT&R) Composites Testing Competitive Advantage

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 with our machine capacity ranging from 10 grams to 1,000,000 lbs.

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 3000°F; 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

Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc (WMT&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, fatique 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 Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc (WMT&R) test materials by customer specific specifications as well as all applicable ASTM Standard Test Methods.

Composites Thermal Analysis Testing

To strengthen the depth and quality of composites testing results, Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research ,Inc. has a range of thermal analysis equipment at the Composites Center.  Our thermal analysis testing equipment includes:

Discovery Laser Flash System (DLF 1200)

The DLF-1200 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, Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc (WMT&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 Dynamic Mechanical Analysis machine measures the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of materials such as thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, ceramics, and metals. The DMA provides Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc (WMT&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 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 Differential Scanning Calorimetry (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 chemisorptions, desolvation and dehydration, decomposition, and solid-gas reactions such as oxidation or reduction.

Composites Physical Properties Testing

Through physical testing of composites, Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc (WMT&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

For a complete list of Composites Testing Services, Contact Us Today at 724-537-3131

Westmoreland Mechanical Testing and Research, Inc (WMT&R) provides standardized and individualized customer specifications for composites testing. With the assistance of our Mechanical Engineering Department and our full-service in-house Machine Shop, we can design and fabricate specialized fixtures for your unique testing needs. Additionally, Metallographic and Microscopic Analysis are available through our state of the art Analytical and Metallographic Labs.

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