Our specialists provide trusted technical evidence to help engineering teams understand material behaviour, support qualification decisions, and assess long-term performance under representative service conditions.
Testing is conducted within ISO 17025 accredited laboratories and aligned to relevant military and international standards.
Smithers also provides rapid material evaluation and qualification assessment for evolving defense technologies and accelerated development programs.
How Smithers Supports Defense Materials Programs
Material Selection and Qualification
Support for material selection, formulation decisions, qualification planning, supplier transitions, and performance assessment for polymer and elastomer applications.
Elastomer Qualification and Fluid Compatibility
Qualification and performance assessment for elastomers used in fluid-exposed and high-reliability defense systems.
Harsh Environment Polymer Durability
Assessment of polymer performance under demanding environmental exposure and long-term service conditions.
Failure Analysis and Materials Investigation
Root-cause investigation, materials analysis, and corrective action support for qualification, reliability, and in-service performance issues.
Quality Systems, Accreditation and Defense Credentials
Smithers' materials testing and assessment is underpinned by recognised laboratory accreditation, quality systems, and defense assurance credentials.
Technical Capabilities
Smithers combines materials testing, analysis, and applied technical expertise to support qualification, reliability, durability, and performance assessment activities. Testing programs are designed to replicate relevant environmental and service exposure conditions wherever possible.
Capabilities include:
- Material selection, formulation, and qualification support
- Polymer and elastomer testing and performance assessment
- Chemical analysis and material characterization
- Environmental durability and aging evaluation
- Failure investigation and root-cause analysis
- Packaging and transit testing
Testing is aligned to standards including MIL-STD-810, ASTM, and ISO, with bespoke protocols developed where required.
Defense Systems and Platforms
Smithers supports qualification, durability, and reliability across air systems, UAVs, autonomous platforms, land systems, and maritime defense applications.
Typical applications include seals, gaskets, hoses, fluid handling systems, connectors, cable protection systems, sensor housings, protective enclosures, coatings, vibration control materials, lightweight structures, and environmentally exposed components.
Why Work with Smithers
- Independent specialist in polymer and elastomer materials performance
- ISO 17025 accredited laboratories
- Cyber Essentials certified
- JOSCAR registered
- NADCAP accredited capabilities
- Environmental simulation and applied materials assessment capability
- Support from material selection through to in-service investigation
- Specialist support for qualification, durability, and long-term material performance assessment