Testing Environmental Effects on Composites

Our comprehensive testing suite evaluates how environmental factors affect your composite's mechanical and physical properties. We accelerate aging processes to predict long-term performance, identifying potential degradation mechanisms before they become costly field issues. Our moisture conditioning follows ASTM D5229 methodology with precision monitoring of representative travelers to determine moisture equilibrium, while our thermal cycling simulates temperature fluctuations that your materials will face in service, helping you avoid polymer matrix microcracking and mechanical property loss.

• Moisture conditioning (ASTM D5229) with representative traveler monitoring
• Thermal cycling and thermal shock testing to identify microcracking risks
• Fluid exposure testing with single-phase or multi-phase fluids
• Accelerated aging through controlled temperature and pressure
• Post-exposure mechanical and physical testing (tensile, compression, shear, flexure)

From polymer-based composites used in aerospace to composites in Oil and Gas applications, we test materials designed for the most demanding environments. Our services cover composites exposed to moisture, thermal cycling, fluid contact, and UV radiation—precisely simulating your product's operating conditions to validate performance. With expertise in both load-bearing and non-load bearing structures, we help you understand how environmental factors will impact your specific composite applications.

• Polymer-based composites that absorb moisture from the air in regular service
• Composites for Oil and Gas applications in deep water corrosive environments
• Aircraft load-bearing composite structures experiencing thermal cycling
• Aircraft non-load bearing composite structures exposed to various fluids
• Composites requiring long-term performance prediction in challenging environments

We customize testing protocols to match your specific service environment, compressing decades of exposure into weeks of laboratory testing. By carefully selecting pressure, temperature, and exposure conditions, we can simulate up to 25 years of service life. Our approach includes exposing composite samples to fluids in pressure vessels at defined conditions, then increasing temperature and pressure to accelerate physical and chemical aging. After exposure, we quantify environmental effects through comprehensive mechanical and physical property testing including tensile, compression, shear, flexure, DSC, TGA, and thermal conductivity assessment.

• Environmental simulation in humidity chambers with precise control
• Thermal shock and cycling chambers to identify microcracking potential
• Service fluid exposure in pressure vessels at controlled conditions
• Accelerated physical and chemical aging through temperature and pressure control
• Comprehensive post-exposure property evaluation and degradation assessment

Extreme environment simulation expertise
Our specialized capabilities include testing in the most demanding environmental conditions that your composites might face. With experience running exposure tests for any type of liquid or gas required by our clients, including pure H2S, supercritical CO2, and seawater, we help you validate material performance in even the most aggressive service environments. We understand that polymer-based composites can experience plasticization of polymer chains from moisture absorption, resulting in lower glass transition temperature (Tg) and degraded mechanical properties. Our testing identifies these specific mechanisms, ensuring your materials maintain their integrity throughout their service life in challenging conditions.

• Testing with aggressive fluids including pure H2S and supercritical CO2
• Simulation of deep-water corrosive environments for oil and gas applications
• Evaluation of polymer plasticization and Tg reduction from moisture exposure
• Identification of microcracking failure mechanisms from thermal cycling
• Quantification of property degradation from long-term environmental exposure

Our laboratories are equipped with specialized environmental chambers, pressure vessels, and precision testing equipment. This allows us to create exact replicas of your product's operating environment—whether that's deep-water corrosive settings or aircraft service conditions—while maintaining precise control over all variables. Our thermal shock and thermal cycling chambers simulate end-use temperature fluctuations, while our pressure vessels allow exposure to any fluid your materials might encounter in service. Sophisticated analytical equipment enables precise measurement of property changes after exposure.

• Humidity chambers for moisture conditioning with precise temperature and humidity control
• Thermal shock and cycling chambers for temperature fluctuation simulation
• Pressure vessels for fluid exposure at controlled temperature and pressure
• Advanced mechanical testing equipment for post-exposure property evaluation
• Analytical instruments (DSC, TGA, thermal conductivity) for detailed material characterization

Our team operates from specialized composites testing labs across the world, providing global access to our expert capabilities. Find your nearest Materials Testing hub on our Locations Page.