Lab Services

Insights For Industry

Network Polymers, Inc. has an A2LA accredited laboratory with the capability to deal with the most difficult polymer challenges. With our expertise in resin and alloy formulating characterization, we will assist you to define and develop products for your applications.

• Physical
• Analytical
• Weathering
• Color

Physical Testing

Our physical testing laboratory performs a variety of physical and mechanical tests in accordance with ASTM and ISO testing procedures. Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by A2LA, the lab provides reliable testing data for each specified test. Physical test consulting is available for a wide range of tests and products to ensure the product meets your application requirements.

• Durometer Hardness (Shore A+D)
• Flexural Properties
• Izod (Notched/Unnotched)
• Instrumented Impact — Ambient & Sub-ambient Temperature
• Heat Deflection Temperature
• Variable Height Impact Test (Gardner Impact)
• Vicat Softening Temperature
• Melt Flow Rate
• Oven Aging
• Gloss & Distinction of Image (DOI)
• Resistance to Chemicals
• Specific Gravity/Density
• Tensile Properties
• Volatile Loss
• Volume & Surface Resistivity

Analytical Testing

Industries such as plastics have a strong need for analytical testing, and much of this testing — from quality assessment to product analysis — is done in-house. Network Polymers can assist your organization with all analytical testing needs. We provide solutions using decades of technical expertise and equipment in our own lab, and are connected to many outside testing facilities that offer an even broader range of analytical expertise.

Our analytical capabilities span the following areas and more:

• Polymer Resin Identification (FT-IR)
• Melt Point (Tm), Glass Transition (Tg), Degree of Crystallinity & Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
• Thermal Decomposition Temperature, Profile, % Volatiles, Inorganic Content, Carbon Black Content in Concentrates & Thermal Gravimetric Analysis
• Inorganic Pigment/Filler Identification (FT-IR)
• Elemental Profile/Metal Analysis via ICP & SEM
• Contaminants/Impurities Identification
• Dispersion Quality
• Compositional/Competitive Analysis
• Various Microscopy Techniques with ATR & ARO Capabilities

Color Matching

With many years of formulation experience, our Color Department will match your standard, chromatic or special effects colors to your specifications in the right resin for your application. Our Color Specialists will develop the most cost-effective formulation to meet all of your weathering and regulatory requirements and provide excellent lot-to-lot consistency while maintaining the resin's critical physical properties.

Accelerated Weathering Testing

Advanced xenon-accelerated weathering instruments allow us to speed up the effects of solar radiation, water and heat on our customer products. As a result, years of outside exposure are easily visible in a matter of weeks to months. We perform weathering testing of plastic products using a wide range of established weathering protocols designed to meet today's industry needs.

• ASTM G155
• SAE J-2527
• SAE J-2412

Contact Us

Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about Network Polymers' lab and testing capabilities. We'll help you identify the right testing solutions for your project.