As industries turn to specialized third-party providers rather than trying to do everything in-house, the number of facilities to complete all types of testing for known and unknown plastics has dramatically increased across the country.
However, while a local testing facility is often a good option, the quality and ability of the service to complete the plastic testing are much more relevant than the specific location. Plastics are lightweight, and with the small sample sizes, it is just as easy for a company or manufacturing facility to work with a testing facility across the country.
To find the ideal lab for occasional as well as ongoing plastic testing requirements, there are at least three important factors to consider. After these issues have been assessed for each lab, the cost of the testing services can be used to determine which of the qualified labs offers the best and most effective testing and cost options.
Specialized Testing Facility
Some testing facilities are designed to handle a full range of different testing requirements. This may include plastics as one material, but it can also include a range of other composite materials, inorganics or even organic samples.
Using a specialized lab for plastics is always the recommended option. As plastics is all that is used, technicians are very experienced in working with the equipment and running accurate testing parameter.
Understanding of Necessary Testing to Meet Requirements
Check to make sure the lab you are considering offers the required tests for your plastic. This can include basic tests such as ash content burn-off testing through to TGA, MSA or FTIR procedures.
Top labs will also choose tests that provide the necessary results and often recommend plastic testing that is better suited for the specific results needed. In some cases, these labs will have extremely fast turnaround times and even the option for rush testing with same or second-day results.