We provide a wide range of compounding and testing services to companies from different industries such as oil & gas, aerospace, automotive and energy. These services include testing capabilities for polymer, rubber and composite materials and products; backed by our expertise in physical properties testing, process chemistry and characterization.

Our various thermal, rheological and mechanical tests are performed in accordance with ASTM standards.

Our testing results are reported without bias by our experienced and qualified team in order to meet client specifications and standards.

In order to offer superior testing services and meet our client expectations, our facilities are equipped with the most advanced technology.

For more information contact Gina Butuc at gbutuc@mstmail.net. You can also download our brochure in .pdf format by clicking here.

Thermal Analysis

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
DSC is a measurement of characteristic properties of polymers such as melting point, glass transition temperature, crystallization and phase changes transitions at temperatures ranging from -80° to 250°C.

Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
TGA is a characterization method that is performed on a variety of polymers, blends and polymer composites to determine changes in weight as a function of temperature under nitrogen or air environment for characterization of thermal and oxidative stability of polymers, and the amount of inorganic fillers.

Composition break down and carbon black % by TGA ASTM D297

Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA)
TMA is the measurement of a change of a dimension or a mechanical property of the sample while it is subjected to a temperature regime by Seiko I, TMA 100 instrument.

Spectrophotometric Analysis

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
Elastomer identification by spectrophotometric methods, such as FTIR equipped with Golden Gate Ge crystal of compounded products or elastomer as a product of pyrolisis, ASTM D3677.

Rheological Measurements

Crosslink density of compounded elastomers by CCS Rheometer:

Oscillation Disk Rheometer (ODR)
ODR is the use of the oscillating disk cure meter for determining selected vulcanization characteristics of vulcanizable rubber compounds per ASTM D2084.

Moving Die Rheometer (MDR)
MDR is the measurement of selected vulcanization characteristics of rubber compound using rotorless linear shear, unsealed torsion shear and sealed torsion shear cure meters per ASTM D5289.

Mooney Viscosity
As the shearing torque resisting rotation of a cylindrical metal disk (or rotor) embedded in rubber within cylindrical cavity per ASTM D1646.

Capillary Rheometer
Processing studies for extrusion, transfer and injection molding of elastomer compounds by Mosanto Capillary Rheometer and Die Swell Detector per ASTM D3835.

Mechanical Properties

Stress Strain
Used to evaluate the tensile (tension) properties of vulcanized thermoset rubbers and thermoplastic elastomers per ASTM 412 and ASTM 1414:

• MTS – Qtest/5 measuring tensile, elongation and elastic moduli at ambient temperature.
• Monsanto Tensometer 2000 – for temperatures up to 400°C.

Tear Resistance
Measuring tear properties of compounded elastomers, per ASTM D624.

Abrasion Resistance by Taber Abrader
Measuring elastomers resistance to mechanical abrasion, per ASTM D3389.

Creep Test
ASTM D2990

Adhesion to Flexible Substrate
ASTM D429

Adhesion to Rigid Substrate
ASTM D593

Compression Deflection
ASTM D575

Physical Properties

Hardness
Determining indentation hardness of substances classified as rubber materials, elastomeric materials, thermoplastic elastomers and some hard plastics per ASTM D2240.

• Shore A Hardness – for soft vulcanized compounds.
• Shore M Hardness – for o-rings measurements of hardness.

Specific Gravity
Defined as the ratio of the elastomer compound density to the density of water at a specific temperature and pressure, per ASTM D297.

Electrical Properties

Volume resistivity measurements, per ASTM D257.

High Temperature, High Pressure Testing

• Downhole simulation testing – 650°F and 6000 psi and 400°F and 2000 psi.
• Explosion decompression – in carbon dioxide methane or nitrogen, per NACE TMO192.

Chromatographic Methods

Gas Permeation Chromatography (GPC)
GPC System for polymer relative molecular weight determination by comparison with polystyrene standard by SEC, ASTM D5296.

Accelerated Aging

Accelerated weathering at various temperatures in the oven under nitrogen atmosphere.
Chemical resistance of elastomeric  compounds to various fluids, ASTM D471.

Compounding Capabilities

Expertise in compounding various elastomers such as: PNF, HNBR, FKM and EPDM.

Available equipment:

• Albert Mill.
• Carver Press.
• Brabender Mixer.