Seattle Laboratory

SEATTLE CAPABILITIES

• Metallurgical & Materials Testing Laboratory

  Exponent's metallurgists, corrosion scientists, electrochemists, polymer scientists, and chemical engineers analyze and investigate product equipment failures and defects, structural component failures, industrial failures, marine failures, explosions, and fires. Our lab teams pinpoint root causes and provide critical support for complex disputes and litigation, including large loss investigations. We also help clients address challenges across the entire product lifecycle, from prototyping through product development, recalls, and end-of-product-life issues. Our capabilities span:

  • Failure analysis and root cause analysis, including failure mode identification

  • Metallurgical analysis

  • Fractography and fracture mechanics assessment

  • Contaminant identification

  • Corrosion evaluation

  • Metallographic preparation and analysis

  • Hardness testing and microhardness testing

  • Stress analysis

  • Analysis of component design and propensity for failure

  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)

• Polymer Testing Laboratory

  Our polymer testing lab helps clients investigate failures in plastics, rubbers, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and composite materials, as well as evaluate material performance across the product lifecycle. Our experts address fatigue, creep, wear, and weathering effects on piping, plumbing, and other polymer components and alleged material and construction defects. We also provide support for materials selection, regulatory and intellectual property matters, and manufacturing quality and supply chain evaluations. Our lab services include:

  • Failure analysis and root cause investigation

  • Manufacturing process performance and quality analysis

  • Fractography and fracture mechanics assessments

  • Custom test method development and experimental design

  • Durability, accelerated aging, and failure mode analysis

  • Material identification and contaminant determination

• Pressure Testing Laboratory

  Our multidisciplinary scientists investigate piping systems, components, and assemblies involved in complex failure, water damage, explosions, and other loss events. Exponent's lab team designs and builds custom pressure test fixtures to evaluate performance under static, cyclic, and test‑to‑failure conditions, with controlled pressurization and integrated data logging.

  Our experts assess pressure tolerance, degradation behavior, and failure modes to replicate real‑world service conditions — including fire and loss investigations involving pressurized fluid lines. We also support litigation and multi‑party examinations, providing defensible data for root cause analysis across construction, industrial, food and beverage, and infrastructure applications.

• Secure Evidence Storage

  Exponent's Seattle Lab provides secure, controlled evidence storage designed to preserve integrity and chain of custody for high‑stakes litigation matters. Our facility provides long‑term storage of large and complex evidence, with controlled access, environmental controls, and documented handling practices aligned with applicable standards — including ASTM E1188-23, ASTM E1492-11(2017), and NFPA 921. Our lab regularly hosts multi‑party inspections and extended investigations.