--- type: "WebPage" title: "Analysis and characterization of composite materials" description: "Your needs: to carry out the characterization of composite materials as part of the design or optimization of your products If you work in transport, medical devices, or sports equipment, you are looking to optimize your production processes through the..." resource: "https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/polymer-materials-analysis-laboratory/laboratory-analysis-composite-material/" tags: ["EN", "pll_6572f455805a6", "Thomas GAUTIER"] timestamp: "2026-07-15T09:50:55Z" published: "2021-08-06T09:23:35Z" language: "en" author: "bwa" --- # Analysis and characterization of composite materials ## Your needs: to carry out the characterization of composite materials as part of the design or optimization of your products If you work in transport, medical devices, or sports equipment, you are looking to optimize your production processes through the use of composite materials, which are lighter and more resistant. The diversity of composite material matrices makes them complex to analyze and requires regular monitoring to verify product compliance. To support you with your production issues or[failures](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/laboratory-analysis-failures.md), you are looking for the support of a reliable and responsive laboratory specializing in the analysis and characterization of composite materials. ![caractérisation matériaux](https://filab.fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/composites.jpg) ## Our solutions: supporting you in the analysis and characterization of composite materials With a team of materials experts and state-of-the-art analytical equipment, the FILAB laboratory offers its composite material analysis and characterization services to support you with your industrial challenges. From the design to the evolution of your composite material-based products, the FILAB laboratory provides you with its [composite expertise](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-material-testing/laboratory-expertise-composites.md), and works on the following services: ## Our services [Characterization of composite material properties](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-material-testing.md): length, diameter, degree of impregnation throughout the mass… [Chemical analysis](https://filab.fr/nos-prestations/analyse/analysis-chimiques/) of the composition of the composite material resulting from matrix, reinforcement, and additive blends. Surface characterization: [porosity measurement](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/porosity-analysis-by-mercury-porosimetry-poro-hg.md) [Residual stress measurement](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-material-testing/measurement-residual-stresses.md) [CMC SiC/SiC surface analysis](https://filab.fr/nos-prestations/analyse/analyse-plasturgie-analyse-polymeres/laboratoire-analyse-composite/analyse-surface-cmc-sic-sic.md) [Failure analysis of composite materials](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/laboratory-analysis-failures.md): aging, breakage, non-conformity, appearance of deposits or particles… [Composite deformulation](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-material-testing/deformulation-composite-laboratory.md) [Composite expertise](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-material-testing/laboratory-expertise-composites.md) [Analysis of ceramic matrix composites (CMC)](https://filab.fr/en.md) To do this, our laboratory has a [Scanning Electron Microscope](https://filab.fr/nos-moyens-techniques/laboratoire-d-analysis-par-microscopie-electronique-a-balayage-meb-edx/), coupled with an EDX probe, and numerous [GC-MS](https://filab.fr/nos-moyens-techniques/laboratoire-analysis-chromatographie-gc-ms/) and [Py-GCMS](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/py-gc-ms-pyrolysis-gc-ms.md) instruments allowing us to study the composition of the composite (carbon fiber, glass fiber, ceramic, etc.). Also, [thermal analysis](https://filab.fr/nos-prestations/analyse/laboratoire-caracterisation-des-materiaux/laboratoire-analysis-thermiques-thermogravimetriques/) by TGA coupled with infrared [FTIR](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-ftir-spectroscopy.md) will highlight the physico-chemical specificities of the composite material depending on temperature. ## What is composite material characterization? What is composite material characterization? Composite material characterization is the process used to determine the properties of composite materials, which are materials made up of several different components. It may include tests to measure strength, stiffness, density, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and various other physical and mechanical parameters. This data is used to develop models and numerical simulations that make it possible to predict the behavior of composite materials under different conditions and to design composite structures for specific applications. Why can composite material characterization be useful to you? Composite material characterization is particularly useful in many fields, such as aerospace, automotive, construction, marine, and sports. It makes it possible to understand the different properties of composite materials, determine their strength, stiffness, ductility, thermal and electrical conductivity, resistance to corrosion and wear, among other essential characteristics. By understanding these properties, engineers can design higher-performing composite structures for specific applications, such as aircraft wings, car bodies, boat hulls, tennis rackets, and many others. Thanks to precise composite material characterization, professionals can also ensure the safety and reliability of composite structures, avoid material failures, and design more durable and efficient devices. In short, composite material characterization is an essential element in the development of new technologies and progress in many industrial fields. What techniques are used for composite material characterization? Among the various techniques used in the characterization of composite materials, we find in particular: - Electron microscopy: this technique makes it possible to examine the internal structure of the material at a very fine scale and determine the composition of the different layers. - Infrared spectroscopy, which makes it possible to analyze the molecular vibrations of materials and determine their composition. - Tensile tests: these make it possible to measure the material's strength and stiffness by applying a force along one axis. - Compression tests, which make it possible to measure the material's strength by applying a force perpendicular to its surface. - [Flexural tests](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/mechanical-laboratory-test/laboratory-bending-tests.md) : these make it possible to measure the material's strength and stiffness by applying a force perpendicular to its surface at different pressure levels. - thermography, ultrasound and radiography.Torsion tests: these make it possible to measure the material's stiffness by applying a torsional force to its end. - Fatigue tests: these make it possible to measure the material's resistance to repeated and cyclic loads. - Thermography, ultrasound and radiography are non-destructive tests that make it possible to measure the characteristics of materials without damaging their structure.