Materials Evaluation

With modern testing processes & in-depth materials characterization, Kratos remains an integral partner to industries from aerospace to infrastructure. We are a leading laboratory for complex material testing and analysis, specializing in evaluations in ambient to extreme conditions.

Testing with Integrity

Customers choose to work with Kratos because of our dedicated professionals, dependable results, and continuous innovation.

Expert Analysis

We leverage our testing expertise to shorten program schedules while mitigating technical risk, supporting materials-based technical milestones.

Transparent Reporting

Kratos is the trusted independent material evaluator for manufacturers, industries, NASA, and government, providing and protecting design data across all environments.

Challenge Accepted

With research and development at our core, Kratos makes solving challenging problems routine. We continuously strive to increase capability, extract meaningful data, and improve the quality of reporting.

A Legacy of Extreme Evaluation

Southern Research’s Engineering Division was acquired by Kratos in 2022 and came with a long history of testing advanced materials in demanding environments. What had begun as a research organization concept in 1941 evolved into a market-leading laboratory by solving increasingly complex challenges.

One example is in the early days of the U.S. space program when our engineers began evaluating materials in extreme heat for NASA. This research provided critical information for selecting heat-shield materials that were successfully used on the Apollo missions. Today, Kratos is still engaged by NASA to evaluate materials for heat shields, space vehicles, and many other programs.

Nondestructive Solutions

Our multi-disciplinary team delivers nondestructive method optimization and high-fidelity analysis for complex inspections and advanced material characterization. We are structured with the agility and resources to help you identify and resolve your most challenging inspection problems.

Advanced ultrasonic spectroscopy, UltraSpec®
Computed tomography (micro-CT to nano-CT) and analysis
Unique 2D x-ray radiography, collimated scanning radiography
Conventional ultrasonic inspection and analysis
Metrology and shape capture
Material property measurement
Optical microscopy and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope)
Fast, quality analytics, advanced software services

Explore Nondestructive Solutions

kratos employee working with nondesctructive materials

Mechanical Testing

With extensive testing and measurement capabilities, Kratos is a premier U.S. laboratory for high-temperature (Room temperature to over 5,500°F) evaluation of advanced materials. Our engineers possess significant expertise in material behavior, analysis, and evaluation with the support of highly skilled experimental technicians.

Material mechanical property tests include:

Tension- uniaxial and hoop
Compression- uniaxial and hoop
Flexure- 3-pt, 4-pt, biaxial
Fatigue
Shear-torsion, Iosipescu and double-notch
Creep
Fracture toughness
Tension/compression with torsion
Specialty- for complex or subcomponent

Thermal Testing

For more than 65 years, Kratos’ thermal team has been nationally recognized for its leadership in thermal properties characterization and evaluation of high temperature materials. The laboratory has conducted testing on composites, ceramics, metals, and insulations across environments spanning from cryogenic conditions to beyond 5,500°F, including extreme and mission-relevant conditions.

Thermal expansion – dilatometer, ring, filament
Thermal conductivity – CRA, RIA, GHP
Emissivity at temperature
Heat capacity – calorimeter, adiabatic and ice
Specialty thermal testing – laser diffusivity, TGA, DSC
Dielectric property testing
Precision cryogenic thermal expansion

Contact Us

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