Exponent Expands ISO 17025 Accreditation to Bowie Laboratory

Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 provides third-party validation of thermal analysis test methods

Exponent has expanded its ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation footprint, as its facility in Bowie, Maryland, recently became certified by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA, Certificate #2561.05) for a series of industry standard test methods that are used to perform thermal analyses on a variety of engineering materials.

The results from these tests provide clients with critical data that conforms to the rigorous levels of quality assurance required by ISO/IEC 17025. An audit to these requirements helps Exponent demonstrate its methods are developed and validated to state-of-the-art, consensus-based, industry standard test methods and conducted using fully traceable equipment. 

"The accreditation to ISO 17025 for industry standard thermal analysis methods continues to allow Exponent to generate the highest-quality testing data, which enables us to solve the most complex problems for our clients," stated Ryan Fox, Ph.D., a senior scientist in Exponent's Polymer Science and Materials Chemistry practice. 

Test methods covered by Exponent's new scope of accreditation

An internationally recognized third-party accreditation body, A2LA performs unbiased, objective assessments of participating labs' quality systems. Exponent's Bowie Laboratory's accreditation covers thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). These two techniques are often complementary and allow for determination of a wide range of material properties, such as composition, thermo-oxidative stability, melting and crystallization transition temperatures, and glass transition temperatures. 

In addition, material-specific test methods for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and nickel-titanium (nitinol) alloys provide medical device clients with rigorous testing data that may be needed for regulatory filings. 

A summary of the latest test method additions to the scope of accreditation includes: 

Our Bowie laboratory has a long history of excellence in polymeric materials testing and medical device testing. Our thermal analysis testing on plastics, rubbers, textiles, metals, and medical devices enables us to answer challenging questions that arise during product development and validation, root-cause and corrective action investigations, and quality control assessments.