Accreditations & Approvals for Aerospace Industry
NSL’s materials testing facilities are accredited through Nadcap MTL AC7101 and meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025.
NSL is a trusted vendor to many top manufacturers and maintains several quality approvals including:
- GE Aerospace S-400
- Boeing D1-4426 (801, 808)
- Parker
- Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Engine Group
- Snecma/SAFRAN
- Eaton Aerospace
- Lockheed Martin
- Honeywell
- Rolls Royce Civil Aerospace
Because of advances in materials and design, commercial and military aircraft are becoming more efficient every day. However, the materials of construction are more complex than ever, and the process technology is complex as well. That means that it has become more important than ever for the final parts to be characterized to guarantee that they will function properly.
Jet engines are constructed of the most advanced titanium alloys, nickel and cobalt superalloys, and advanced composites. For example, most jet engine turbine blades today are made of single-crystal alloys, which have greater strength and can operate at higher temperatures than conventional alloys. These blades are usually hollow and are made by investment casting. When characterizing single-crystal parts, it is critical to first establish that the material is a single crystal, then to use nondestructive testing techniques to ensure that the casting has no defects.
Many jet engine parts are protected by thermal spray coatings to enable higher operating temperatures and to reduce wear. These coatings are analyzed for thickness, porosity, adherence, and other characteristics. Other parts are strengthened by heat treating, and these components are analyzed for physical properties including hardness, strength, and microstructure.
Carbon-carbon composites are being applied in an increasing number of aerospace applications because of their low weight, high strength, and high operating temperatures. However, these complex materials require close process control to prevent delamination, voids, and other flaws. Composites are tested for the same properties of strength, hardness, shear, flexure, fracture toughness, and fatigue as conventional materials, but our experienced team modifies these tests to match the structures of the many varieties of composites found on today’s aircraft.
NSL Analytical Services is equipped to perform a variety of aerospace materials testing services. Request a quote today!
Learn how NSL supports innovation by testing powder metal feed stock, prototype designs and final product in the Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing Industry.