Material analysis performance program (MAPP)

Manufacturers face constant pressure to lower costs and improve product performance. UL developed the material analysis performance program (MAPP) to help manufacturers select well-suited component materials based on strength, heat resistance and other specific performance characteristics. UL offers a wide array of small- and large-scale testing services for every phase of the manufacturing process-from product design and product optimization to certification of materials across the supply chain. The program tests for chemical and physical characteristics and for fire performance of raw materials, end products and integrated systems. Years of experience make UL especially well-qualified to interpret results based on correlations between small-, intermediate- and large-scale testing.

The industry's most advanced equipment and comprehensive tests

UL has invested in advanced, high-precision test equipment and applies more than 100 years of experience to certify compliance with the most stringent fire performance standards.

• Infrared absorption ­- Uses Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer with continuum microscope to measure infrared absorption spectra. An extensive search library is available for forensic identification.
• Thermal decomposition - Uses a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) to measure thermal decomposition over a range of temperatures.
• Thermal transition. - Uses a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) to measure thermal transition temperatures of materials.
• Stress-strain behavior - Uses a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) to measure stress-strain behavior over a range of temperatures and frequencies.
• Heat of combustion - Uses an oxygen bomb calorimeter to measure heat combustion for compliance with NFPA 259 and ISO 1716 standards.
• Mechanical behavior - Uses Instron materials testing system to measure mechanical behavior of metals, plastics and elastomers over a range of strain rates.
• Oxygen concentration. - Uses oxygen index apparatus (LOI) to determine the minimum oxygen concentration that supports a candle-like flame for polymetric materials, for ASTM D2863 and ISO 4589 compliance.
• Material-specific gravity - Pycnometer uses helium displacement technology to determine material-specific gravity.
• Measurement and inspection - Uses LEICA microscopes to provide high-precision dimension measurement and fine structure inspection.
• Controlled heat - Uses a cone calorimeter to determine ignitability, weight loss, heat and smoke release rates under controlled heat flux conditions, for compliance with ASTM E1354, ISO 5660 and NFPA 271.
• Thermal assessment - Uses TGA-Smoke-FTIR in a precise thermal environment to assess both smoke generation and gas effluent characteristics.

The UL advantage

MAPP provides an important layer of supply-chain verification, so manufacturers know that component parts sourced from diverse suppliers in different countries comply with their performance and safety standards. UL field inspectors can visit facilities around the world to perform small-scale tests onsite and observe documentation processes. In addition, UL collaborates with product engineers to address specific performance issues, applying more than 100 years of testing experience to develop procedures that analyze how alternative materials hold up under smoke, heat, pressure and other conditions. This collaboration helps reduce product development costs and accelerates time-to-market.