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NOVEL TECHNICAL capabilities

Material + Prototype Testing

Our dedicated testing team utilizes advanced equipment and methodologies to conduct extensive evaluations across multiple parameters.





IN-HOUSE MATERIAL TESTING


FPPD has extensive in-house testing capabilities to perform physical and mechanical testing on plastic materials and composites. 




The material testing capability includes:


  • Various molds are used to inject ASTM tensile, flexural, and Izod impact specimens. Additional specimen molds to mold 2” and 4” round disks, 4” square plates, and 4”x6” plates.

  • One 25KN tensile test machine and one 100KN tensile testing machine, both with temperature chambers, capable of testing from thin films, sheets, and ASTM specimens for plastic and metal materials.

  • Haze meter for optical properties

  • Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)

  • Tabor abrasion tester

  • One fogging tester and one sand blast tester – on loan under an agreement with DEVCOM-Soldier Center

  • Notched Izod impact tester with low temperature chamber

  • High-speed instrumented impact tester with a temperature chamber

  • UV-visible spectroscopy

  • UV exposure chamber, high-temperature ovens and temperature-humidity chambers

  • Various optical microscopies





With these in-house material testing capabilities, FPPD can perform testing quickly and accelerate project timelines.  FPPD can also build customized fixtures to test specific features or performance requirements. More importantly, FPPD has leveraged over 20 years of experience in developing lightweight transparent armors and small arms ammunition to build extensive expertise in conducting failure analysis through ballistic testing, improving armor and ammunition systems to meet performance requirements.










IN-HOUSE PROTOTYPE TESTING


FPPD has extensive in-house testing capabilities to perform physical and mechanical testing on prototypes.




The prototype testing capability includes:


  • Conventional Form, Fit, and Function Testing

  • Customized corner drop from up to 14 feet for munition packaging systems with multiple sensors attached to measure the impact forces at different locations

  • Simulated hoist and ram testing to measure impact force and inspect the dimensions of the damage zone for the Navy’s MK12 plugs

  • Telescope impact testing to confirm the MK12 plugs can resist the impact force without causing significant damage to the crown of the plugs

  • Case pull test, bullet pull test, and seal test for lightweight ammunitions

  • Instrumental drop tests for 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm mortar rounds packed in either metal or lightweight composite containers with various protective cushion prototypes

  • Optical property measurement, optical distortion testing, and prismatic testing for spectacle goggle lenses and facial prototypes 

  • Ballistic testing on armor and ammunition prototypes





With these capabilities, FPPD can custom-design and implement innovative prototype testing methodologies to meet specific performance requirements, such as conducting drop tests to assess impact forces and identify damage zones on prototype components. This allows FPPD to complete testing quickly and meet customer project timelines. Additionally, FPP engineers possess the expertise to perform thorough failure analysis, identifying root causes of potential failure modes and providing timely recommendations for design modifications or changes.










BALLISTIC TESTING

FPPD has extensive capabilities to perform various ballistic testing to meet the project’s needs at its own facility or partnering companies’ facilities. 




The ballistic testing capability includes:


  • Gas gun for .15 Cal, .22 Cal and .30 Cal fragment simulated projectile (FSP) or FPPD’s own armor piercing simulated projectile (APSP) for various armor testing needs

  • EPVAT testing for measuring case mouth pressure, port pressure, action time, and the same equipment can be used for accuracy testing of various small arms ammunitions

  • Function and Casualty (F&C) ballistic testing for small arms ammunitions at the temperature range from 165F to -65F on various small arms rifles and machine guns for 5.56mm, 7.62mm, .30 Cal and .50 Cal ammunitions





With its ballistic testing capabilities, FPPD can quickly accelerate project timelines. More importantly, leveraging over 20 years of experience in developing lightweight transparent armors and small arms ammunition, FPPD has built extensive expertise in conducting failure analysis through ballistic testing to enhance armor and ammunition systems, ensuring they meet performance requirements.






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