Testing

CIC has partnered with the Industrial Technology Centre (www.itc.mb.ca), a fully certified test facility, to provide a full range of mechanical testing services. This partnership ensures clients’ composite test needs are met with the shortest possible turn-around times and full access to experienced specimen preparation and mechanical testing capabilities.

Current Mechanical Testing Services Include:

• Tensile
• Flexure
• Compression
• Shear
• Izod Impact
• Fatigue (various load cases)
• Environmental conditioning coupled with mechanical testing

Thermal Analysis Testing

Thermal analysis is the study of material properties as they change with temperature. For traditional glass and carbon composites, resin systems are the primary focus of thermal analysis as fibre reinforcement is relatively inert at lower temperatures. Determining resin matrix thermal performance, cure completeness, and temperature dependent physical properties is key to consistently producing high quality parts.

Current Thermal Analysis Testing Services Include:

• Glass Transition Temperature
• Degree of Cure
• Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
• Specific Heat Capacity
• Heat Distortion Temperature

Physical Properties Testing

Composite fabrication success demands knowledge of key physical properties – including resin viscosity, gel time, and shrinkage from cure. Resin and fibre fraction determination can be a powerful tool to assess fabrication effectiveness and consistency. These simple tests can help clients make the right choice when selecting new processes and improving existing ones.

Current Physical Properties Testing Services Include:

• Constituent Content (Resin/Fibre Fraction)
• Density Determination
• Water Absorption
• Viscosity Determination
• Gel Time/Peak Exotherm
• Shrinkage from Cure