Southern Research Institute has been a national leader in the thermal properties characterization and evaluation of high temperature materials for more than 30 years. The thermal properties laboratory staff has performed tests on a variety of materials including composites, ceramics, metals, insulations and lubricants under normal and in extreme environments at temperatures from cryogenic to over 3000°C. Test capabilities include:
Contact:
John Koenig
Director, Materials Research Department
(205) 581-2436
Koenig@southernresearch.org
Southern Research Institute has been a national leader in the thermal properties characterization and evaluation of high temperature materials for more than 30 years. The staff of the thermal properties laboratory have performed tests on a variety of material including composites, ceramics, metals, insulations and lubricants under normal and in extreme environments at temperatures from cryogenic to over 3000°C.
Precision Cryogenic Thermal Expansion
Southern Research Institute has developed a unique facility for measuring thermal expansion with ultra-high accuracy from 300 K down to below 15 K. Using interferometers and a proprietary optical flagging system, CTE accuracy of better than 20 parts-per-billion is standard. For materials that do not tend to bend or flex, CTE accuracy of better than 5 parts-per-billion is possible (based on 8-inch sample with 20 K delta T). Sample sizes can range from 1 cm to 1 meter in length with cross-sections up to 20 cm in diameter.
Thermal Expansion
Thermal Conductivity
Heat Capacity
Total Normal Emittance (1000 to 4500°F, Inert)
Yarn/Fiber Properties
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) (25 to 1000°C, Air, Inert)
Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) (-145 to 600°C Air, Inert)
Laser Diffusion (RT to 2400°F, Vacuum)
Heat-Treatment Furnaces (to 5750°F)
Electrical Resistivity
Contact:
John Koenig
Director, Materials Research Department
(205) 581-2436
Koenig@southernresearch.org
Southern Research uses the high temperature experimental simulation testing techniques it has developed to evaluate thermal and thermostructural phenomena observed in materials exposed to extreme temperature environments.
Capabilities
Areas of Application
Contact:
John Koenig
Director, Materials Research Department
(205) 581-2436
Koenig@southernresearch.org
Southern Research Institute can perform thermal, mechanical and nondestructive characterization at cryogenic temperatures down to 15K. Instrumentation techniques are based on decades of testing at temperature extremes. Many of the same measurement philosophies that were developed for high temperature testing to 3000K have been successfully applied to cryogenic testing. In addition, Southern Research has added optical metrology to its testing capabilities to improve resolution of precision materials.
Contact:
John Koenig
Director, Materials Research Department
(205) 581-2436
Koenig@southernresearch.org
Evaluation of Thermal Protection Materials/Systems
Contact:
Chris Wanstall
Experimental Mechanics
(205) 581-2892
wanstall@southernresearch.org
Southern Research Institute, nationally recognized for its extensive materials characterization capabilities, has dedicated a Processing Research Facility which has the capability to produce polymer and carbon matrix composites, produce fabric and fiber impregnated products, and a wide variety of aerogel materials.
Our Carbon-Carbon Composites Laboratory has full processing capability including formulation of resin and pitch prepreg materials, lamination, carbonization and heat treatment to 5500ºF. Current projects include structural skins for an all carbon thermal protection system for space vehicles and a carbon-carbon airframe/combustor for hypersonic missile applications.
Low Cost Processing
Missile Applications
Thermal Protection Systems for Advanced Space Vehicle Re-entry
Oxidation Resistant Carbon-Carbon
Thermal Management
Contact:
Michael D. Johns, Vice President
Environment, Energy and Engineering Division
205-581-2520
johns@southernresearch.org
Aerogels are a special class of foams which have nanometer-sized pores. They are processed through sol-gel techniques using supercritical drying to achieve very low density material. These continuous, open cell foams offer pore sizes from 5nm to 100nm giving a wide range of possible applications. Aerogels area characterized by high porosity (>90%), high internal surface area (400-1000m2/g) and a solid matrix composed of interconnected fibrous chains with characteristic diameters of 10nm. Aerogel materials have successfully been applied to thermal protection systems for reusable launch vehicles, high performance acoustic and thermal insulations and as substrates for energy storage in ultracapacitors.
Southern Research has increased its capacity to produce aerogel materials by addition of a 20-liter pressure vessel. This allows intermediate scale manufacturing of thermal protection tiles for future space operation vehicles. In addition, our material characterization research has shown that aerogel insulation is unsurpassed in low thermal conductance at temperatures up to 5000ºF.
Contact:
Michael D. Johns, Vice President
Environment, Energy and Engineering Division
205-581-2520
johns@southernresearch.org
Southern Research Institute and The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Engineering have teamed to perform innovative composite materials and manufacturing research. This initiative focuses on product and process development of new and innovative composite materials for transportation, construction, infrastructure, recreation, biomedical and industrial applications. As part of Southern Research Institute, these efforts are ISO 9001 certified.
Our capabilities include:
Contact:
Michael D. Johns, Vice President
Environment, Energy and Engineering Division
205-581-2520
johns@southernresearch.org