The Orton Materials Testing & Research Center (MTRC)

The Materials Testing & Research Center is an independent research and referee testing laboratory specializing in evaluating refractory, glass, whiteware, carbon, insulation, and advanced ceramic materials. It is operated by The Edward Orton Jr. Ceramic Foundation, a non-profit organization that has been providing products and services to the ceramic materials community since 1896.

Background

The Orton Materials Testing and Research Center is a full-service independent, non-profit research and testing laboratory specializing in measuring ceramic materials' behavior, performing thermal analysis measurements, and providing consulting services on ceramics and other related materials.

Initially, MTRC was known as The Refractories Fellowship Laboratory, established in 1917 at the Mellon Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was relocated to The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, in 1965 and renamed the Refractory Research Center. Since 1990, the Center has been operated by the Edward Orton Jr. Ceramic Foundation, located in Westerville, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. In addition to offering testing services, the Edward Orton Jr. Ceramic Foundation manufactures and sells test instrumentation and products used in firing ceramics.

Center Operation

Testing projects are reviewed for requirements and assigned to one of the MTRC engineers, who consults with the customer as needed. Test resultsare emailed to the customer as soon as they are available.

Placing Orders

Please provide a purchase order and description of the materials to be tested along with identification of desired test work. Note that each test has an identifying T number (e.g., T9320), which can be used when placing an order. A request for testing services form is located on the last page of this price list.

Completion time for a project varies, depending upon the type of test desired and the availability of equipment and personnel. Testing is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis with a typical turnaround time of 1 to 3 weeks for most tests. Every effort is made to be responsive to the client. If additional expenses are incurred to meet the special needs of the customer, then these will be quoted separately.

Samples And Correspondence

Orton Materials Testing & Research Center Phone: 614-818-1321Attn: Mr. Brian Rayner (Testing Services Manager) Fax: 614-895-56106991 Old 3C Highway E-Mail: [email protected]Westerville, OH 43082Additional CorrespondenceBeau Billet (Lab Manager) Phone: 614-818-1355E-Mail: [email protected]Joseph Homeny (Technical Director) Phone: 614-818-1323E-Mail: [email protected]