Datum Advanced Composites is a leading provider of material qualification and product evaluation services, offering end-to-end solutions for Composite material testing and characterisation. With the rising demand for high-performance composites in industries such as aerospace, defense, and automotive, ensuring that these materials meet the required standards is critical. we delivers comprehensive services that streamline composite processing and testing, from initial specimen preparation to in-depth analysis, ensuring that customers receive accurate and reliable results.

Material Qualification Services

One of web’s core strengths is its material qualification service, designed to meet the specific needs of customers utilizing composite materials. Composite materials, known for their lightweight, durable, and versatile nature, have become increasingly important in various industries. However, ensuring that these materials meet stringent quality standards is essential for their application.

Material qualification service begins with processing composite laminates and structures using customer-prescribed materials and processing parameters. This is followed by the machining and preparation of specimens, which are critical for obtaining reliable test results. Conditioning of specimens in specific environments, including hot/wet conditions or fluid immersion, ensures that the testing process accurately simulates real-world conditions.

We team of Materials and Process Engineers and Test Technicians works closely with customers to manage and execute composite processing and testing requirements. The comprehensive nature of we service helps ensure that customers receive complete and precise data on their materials’ performance, supporting better decision-making throughout the product lifecycle.

Specimen Preparation and Conditioning

Specimen preparation is a meticulous process, and its accuracy is crucial to achieving high-confidence results in composite material testing and characterization. The specimen preparation and conditioning service offers customers an efficient solution to the time-consuming task of specimen manufacturing. The company’s expertise in machining composite laminates, end tabbing, and measuring specimens ensures that the specimens are precise and ready for testing.

Additionally, we provide conditioning services for specimens, ensuring they are tested under conditions that mimic their end-use environment. Whether it involves exposure to high humidity, temperature extremes, or immersion in specific fluids, we conditioning service helps ensure that the test results reflect the material’s true performance in real-world conditions. This is particularly valuable for industries like aerospace, where materials are often exposed to harsh environments.

Product Evaluation and Failure Analysis

Datum Advanced Composites also offers comprehensive product evaluation services, drawing on its extensive experience in the aerospace and defense industries. First article inspections (FAI) are a critical aspect of the product evaluation process, ensuring that components meet design specifications and quality standards. We team conducts thorough evaluations, tearing down composite components and systems to identify any issues and improve product quality.

In addition to product evaluation, we provide failure analysis services. Failure analysis is essential for understanding why a component did not perform as expected and for preventing future failures. By examining composite components that have failed during testing or in service, they engineers can identify the root cause of the failure and provide recommendations for improvement. This service is crucial for companies looking to enhance the reliability and durability of their composite materials.

Specialist Testing Services

Composite material testing often requires specialized tests that may not be available in a single laboratory. Managing testing across multiple facilities can be challenging, particularly when trying to maintain consistent quality and timelines. We simplify this process by offering to organize and manage specialist testing through its extensive network of trusted laboratories. This network allows they cover all testing requirements, so customers only need to deal with one organization for their Composite material testing and characterisation.

Datum’s specialist testing services include mechanical, analytical, thermal, electrical, and surface analysis testing. These tests are essential for determining the mechanical properties, durability, and performance of composite materials in various applications.

Mechanical Testing

Datum’s mechanical testing services provide a comprehensive analysis of the strength and durability of composite materials. The tests available include:

- Tensile and compression testing

- In-plane shear and rail shear testing

- Interlaminar shear testing

- 3-point and 4-point flexural tests

- Open-hole tension and compression

- Peel testing

- Single and double overlap shear

- Flat wise tensile and tube testing

- Heat deflection and short-term creep

- Bearing strength and climbing drum peel

Each of these tests is critical for understanding how composite materials will perform under different loads and stress conditions, helping to ensure that they meet the necessary standards for their intended applications.

Analytical Testing

Analytical testing at us provides insight into the composition and behavior of composite materials. This includes:

- Density of core materials

- Void content analysis

- Moisture content analysis

- Moisture absorption testing

- Fiber volume fraction measurement

- Cure behavior and gel time

These tests help customers better understand the material’s physical and chemical properties, allowing for improvements in material processing and performance.

Thermal Testing

Thermal testing is vital for applications where materials are exposed to extreme temperatures. We offer:

- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

- Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)

These tests help assess how composite materials respond to temperature changes, ensuring they maintain their properties in varying environmental conditions.

Electrical Testing

In industries like aerospace, electrical properties can be crucial. we provides electrical testing services, including:

- Volume and surface resistivity

These tests are essential for understanding the insulating properties of composite materials, particularly for applications where materials must withstand electrical stress.

Surface Analysis

Surface analysis is critical for understanding how composite materials will interact with their environment. We surface analysis services include:

- Surface free energy and surface tension testing

- Barcol hardness testing

- Microscopy for void and defect analysis

- Cured ply thickness measurement

These tests ensure that the surface properties of composite materials are suitable for their intended application, whether it’s adhesion, durability, or wear resistance.

Conclusion

Composite material testing and characterisation are essential for ensuring the reliability, performance, and durability of composite materials across a range of industries. Datum Advanced Composites offers a comprehensive range of services, from material qualification and specimen preparation to specialist testing and product evaluation. By providing an all-in-one solution for composite material testing, we ensures that customers receive accurate, reliable, and timely results, helping them to make informed decisions and improve product quality. Whether you’re in aerospace, defense, or another industry reliant on high-performance composites, that is your trusted partner for composite material testing and characterization.