Everything Material in Material Science

The aerospace sector must operate with an unwavering commitment to quality, safety, and performance. From the smallest fasteners to large load-bearing structural beams, every aircraft component must meet the most stringent standards and comply with regulations before it can be certified airworthy.  

Comprehensive materials testing forms the foundation of this assurance. It verifies that each part meets exacting specifications, supports regulatory compliance, and ensures long-term reliability in service. 

As newer materials like lightweight alloys, advanced composites and additive-manufactured parts revolutionize aircraft design, the necessity for material characterization to predict long-term performance under harsh environments, including varying temperatures and pressures, becomes even more critical. 

The Role of Testing Consistency and Accuracy in Component Performance and Safety  

Due to the performance and safety demands of the industry, aerospace components often require multiple processing steps to impart desired properties, such as specialty refinement of raw materials to achieve low impurity levels, or forging and heat treatments to attain specific microstructures.  

Diligent material testing is therefore necessary to prove traceability and compliance throughout the production lifecycle, from raw materials to finished components. Materials are generally first tested for chemistry at production, then retested for microstructure, mechanical properties like strength and hardness, and other critical properties as they move through this lifecycle, ensuring compliance with strict quality and safety standards.  

As a result, accredited testing labs entrusted with this duty play a critical role in supporting the safe operation of the aerospace industry. It is also why choosing a consistent, reliable and trustworthy lab is crucial. 

For highly engineered, safety-critical parts such as rotating components in aircraft engines, testing must scale with increasing design complexity and lower failure tolerance. A low-criticality component may only require some basic mechanical testing, whereas a rotating engine component could require a comprehensive suite of testing including high temperature mechanical properties and fatigue testing. As parts approach final form, requirements become increasingly rigorous, including non-destructive testing to ensure parts are free from defects that could lead to premature failure.   

What Types of Aerospace Materials Testing Does NSL Analytical Provide? 

As a long-time partner of the aerospace industry and a Nadcap MTL-certified lab, NSL Analytical provides a diverse range of testing capabilities in order to serve the complex regulatory demands of the supply chain:   

Analytical Chemistry Testing 

Complete bulk & trace elemental, compositional and phase analysis using: 

• ICP-OES  

• ICP-MS

• XRF 

• Combustion and Fusion testing (LECO) 

• XRD 

• Spark-AES 

• Classical Wet Chemistry 

• Karl Fischer Titration 

Metallurgical Evaluations and Failure Analysis  

These tests determine the metallurgical and microstructural properties, and can be used to determine the root cause of a failed component: 

• Grain size 

• Inclusion rating 

• Intergranular attack / Intergranular oxidation 

• Macro/microstructure evaluations 

• Corrosion testing 

• Alpha case 

• Decarburization/carburization 

• Case depth 

• Delta ferrite 

• Alloy depletion 

• Coating thickness 

• Porosity 

• SEM/EDX/EDS 

Mechanical Testing 

• Room temperature tensile testing 

• Elevated temperature tensile testing 

• Creep and stress rupture 

• Fastener testing 

• Bend testing 

• Charpy impact 

• Hardness/microhardness testing (Rockwell, Vickers, Brinell, Knoop) 

• Fatigue and fracture toughness 

Powder Characterization 

Complete suite of powder characterization testing, including: 

• Particle Size (laser diffraction, sieve analysis) 

• BET surface area 

• Particle morphology 

• Density (apparent, tap, true, skeletal, bulk) 

• Static and dynamic flow (Hall/Carney, Powder Rheometer) 

Conclusion 

In an industry where safety and performance can never be compromised, robust materials testing is the foundation for confidence. From chemistry of raw materials to properties of final parts, every step in the testing process must ensure that components can withstand the most demanding environments.  

Achieving this level of assurance requires more than just advanced equipment — it requires a certified, experienced laboratory partner that understands the unique needs of your products and business. 

NSL Analytical delivers that assurance. With industry-leading turnaround times, proven reliability, and an accessible team of experts, we provide the accuracy and consistency aerospace manufacturers depend on. Backed by accreditations including Nadcap MTL, ISO/IEC 17025, and multiple aerospace OEM-specific quality approvals, NSL is proud to serve as a trusted partner helping our customers meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and performance. 

Contact the expert NSL team to ensure your aerospace materials and components meet the highest standards of quality and safety. 

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Looking to explore how third-party testing can support your unique material needs? Check out NSL’s resources below: 

Materials Matter: This educational hub page is a trusted resource for material science information. 

Webinars and White Papers: Dive into specific topics in this library of educational webinars and white papers.  

Video Library: View these helpful videos about everything from additive manufacturing to spectroscopy and more.  

NSL Analytical Services, Inc. is an independent materials testing lab that specializes in metallurgical, mechanical, chemical, and optical testing for mission-critical industries.  

Contact our experienced, accredited team to discover how we can deliver accurate, repeatable testing results with lightning-fast turnarounds, giving you confidence in your material performance and adherence to quality standards and regulations.