Materials facilities in MA
4 facilities
Center of Excellence for Inflatable Composite Structures
Natick, MA
The Center of Excellence for Inflatable Composite Structures (CE-ICS) manages a textile technology process that are three dimensional, lightweight, load bearing members created when high strength fibers are formed into tubular structures that take predetermined shapes when filled with high pressure air or fluids. These replace metal structures and yield products that weigh 66% less then conventional items, take up less then 25% the volume when stored or shipped and cut deployment time by 60%. The Flexible Composite Structures are extremely lightweight and require minimal storage space during transit. The technology was transferred from the Army to Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and NASA. It was developed through both Government and Industry interaction.
Drop Tower
Natick, MA
The Drop Tower has two parts: an overhead crane with a weighted hook that holds and releases the test load; and below it cement pad. We fully instrument the test load to measure the impact shock and other variables, like temperature and pressure.
Textiles Performance Testing Facilities
Natick, MA
The Textiles Performance Testing Facilities has the capabilities to perform all physical wet and dry performance testing, and visual and instrumental color analysis on textile materials. Other unique capabilities include the Raincourt Facility, the Pilot Plant, the Shade Room and the Microscopy Laboratory.
Thermal Barrier Test Apparatus
Natick, MA
The Natick Soldier Center has the capability to evaluate flame retardant materials based on their flame/thermal protective performance at a heat flux simulating battlefield flame/thermal hazards. The performance is measured using a skin sensor that can predict temperature changes on the human skin surface resulting from heat penetrating the fabric sample. Compared to other conventional tests, this simple bench-scale apparatus is a quick and inexpensive method to get valuable information such as skin temperature profiles and burn injury times.