Materials facilities in MD

Advanced Ceramics Laboratory

West Bethesda, MD

The Advanced Ceramics Laboratory is a comprehensive ceramics synthesis, processing, and characterization laboratory. Ceramics processing capabilities include traditional powder preparation and shape-forming equipment, as well as isopressing, injection molding, hot pressing, and slip casting. Advanced techniques include hot-isostatic pressing and a chemical vapor deposition. Heat treatment and oxidation equipment includes 1,700 degrees C air furnaces and graphite or carbon-element 3,000 degrees C inert-atmosphere/vacuum furnaces.

Fire Safety Test Enclosure (FIREBOX)

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Fire Survivability Facilities (Poverty Island Range Complex)

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Fire Tolerant Materials Laboratories

West Bethesda, MD

The Fire Tolerant Materials Laboratories have the capability to assess shipboard fire safety performance with small-scale tests for candidate shipboard materials for such properties as flame spread, smoke generation, heat release, and products of combustion; includes NIST and Factory Mutual calorimeters and analytic equipment.

Intermediate Fire and Environmental Laboratory (IFEL)

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Marine Coatings and Corrosion Engineering

West Bethesda, MD

Marine Organic Composites Laboratories

West Bethesda, MD

The Marine Organic Composites Laboratories are dedicated to all aspects of composites from basic research into the components of their manufacture, their physical and mechanical properties, and prototype construction and evaluation. This includes: a large prototype production and test area; filament winder (control system capability with six-degrees of freedom to wind complex parts); autoclave (capable of processing parts up to 3 feet by 6 feet at temperatures up to 950 degrees F and pressures of 200 psi); and polymer synthesis labs.

Materials and Evaluation Testing (Chemistry)

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Materials Characterization and Analysis Laboratory

West Bethesda, MD

The Materials Characterization and Analysis Laboratory consists of advanced instrumental analysis techniques including metallography and optical microscopy, image analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and energy dispersive x-ray analysis.

Materials Testing School

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Metal Spray Forming Laboratory

West Bethesda, MD

NSWCCD is the only government activity with the Osprey process capability. It has a 200-pound melt capacity, a deposition rate of ferrous and non-ferrous metal alloys on the order of 100 to 400 lbs. per minute, sensors to provide real-time information on critical properties for intelligent processing, and manipulators for multi-axial motion to make nonsymmetric components and geometries.

Naval Packaging, Handling, Storage & Transportation

Indian Head, MD

Provides system engineering and coordination of requirements/allowance determination, acquisition integration, standardization and use of Test, Measure & Diagnostic Equipment (TMDE) for all shipboard and shore prime equipment/systems throughout their life cycle.

Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Laboratories

West Bethesda, MD

The Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Laboratories are used to conduct NDE of Navy materials with the following capabilities: radiography lab (400-kV x-ray machine) and dark room; ultrasonics and electromagnetics lab; laser optics lab; and penetrant testing and magnetic particle test lab.

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E;)

Indian Head, MD

The Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Department provides RDT&E; of energetic materials and of technologies to evaluate energetic materials and ordnance. In addition, the department also provides the scientific foundation needed to determine the behavior and suitability of energetic materials for ordnance applications

Rough Handling Testing

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Safety

Indian Head, MD

managing and implementing the Navy's occupational safety and health program for asbestos, gas free environment, site conservation, radiation, mercury, lead, deficiency abatements, and hazardous materials containment. Activities include conducting surveys and periodic compliance evaluations and training.

Ship Materials Technology Center

West Bethesda, MD

The Carderock Ship Materials Technology Center (SMTC) is a world-class complex having a pivotal role in advancing the use of advanced materials and processes in the Navy fleet of the 21st century. The SMTC encompasses capabilities for developing advanced materials, engineering mechanics, chemical formulation, testing and characterization of metallic and non-metallic materials, and the prototype production and testing of materials and ship systems and components. The laboratory functional capabilities include:

Signature Materials Laboratories

West Bethesda, MD

Signature Materials Laboratories provide the prototype production capability for experimental shipsets of target-strength reduction materials; measurement of both reflected and radiated signatures in the acoustic, infrared, ultraviolet, visible, and microwave regions. The materials evaluation capability includes: large acoustic pulse tubes capable of submarine depth simulation; a unique bi-directional infrared spectral emittance measurement system; and a lab containing a laser coordinate-axis, ultra-precision dimensional metrology machine.

Structural Dynamics Laboratory

West Bethesda, MD

This facility consists of four uniaxial servo-hydraulic cyclic test machines, a small free form fatigue test fixture, and a lightweight shock machine. The four cyclic test machines have maximum ranges of 110,000; 220,000; 550,000 and 1,000,000 pounds. Each machine has hydraulic grips, allowing for fully reversed cyclic loads. Maximum specimen size is roughly 2 foot wide by 8 foot tall. Each test machine is individually computer controlled and can perform static, constant amplitude cyclic tests as well as random variable spectrum loadings.

Structural Evaluation Laboratory

West Bethesda, MD

The facility includes a strong floor 40 feet by 100 feet by 7 feet thick of heavily reinforced concrete, with tie downs located on five foot centers. Each tie down is rated at 250,000 pounds. Loads are applied to the test structure through hydraulic actuators using up to eight 50-gpm pumps as part of two independent 3500 psi hydraulic pumping systems.