About Element Detroit Wixom
Element Detroit Wixom is a full-service metallurgical and materials testing laboratory supporting the automotive, aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors. Founded in 1987, the laboratory provides extensive expertise in mechanical testing, fatigue testing, metallurgical evaluations, chemical analysis, corrosion testing, and advanced failure analysis, helping manufacturers validate material performance and resolve complex engineering challenges.
Wixom’s services include tensile and compression testing, Charpy impact testing, hardness and microhardness testing, low-cycle and high-cycle fatigue, elevated-temperature fatigue, cyclic corrosion, salt fog exposure, wear and abrasion evaluations, coating and paint assessments, fastener testing, and full metallurgical investigations including microscopy, fractography, and microstructural analysis. The laboratory also offers chemical analysis through ICP, combustion analysis, GDS, and contamination/residue evaluations.
Element’s acquisition of Midwest Testing Laboratories further expanded Wixom’s cyclic corrosion and environmental exposure capabilities. The laboratory holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, with proprietary approvals including General Motors and Ford H13 die steel qualification and NIAC approval.
Supported by experienced engineers and industry committee participants (ASM, AFS), Element Detroit Wixom delivers reliable, high-quality testing with timely turnaround to support material development, quality control, and failure resolution programs.
Compliance and capabilities at Element Detroit Wixom
Metallic Materials & Alloys
- Steels (including H13)
- Aluminum & Magnesium Alloys
- Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Metals
- Heat-Treated Materials
- Welded Materials
Automotive & Transportation Components
- Structural Parts
- Fasteners, Bolts, Screws
- Powertrain & Driveline Materials
- Stamped & Machined Components
Aerospace & Defense Components
- Structural Metallic Components
- Fatigue-Critical Materials
Industrial & Manufacturing Components
- Castings & Forgings
- Coated & Painted Materials
- Wear-Critical Surfaces
- Machine Components
Failure Analysis Materials
- Fractured Hardware
- Contaminated Surfaces
- Coatings & Residues
Coatings Testing Standards
- ASTM C633 – Coating Adhesion
- ASTM D3359 – Adhesion
- GMW14829 – Adhesion
- ASTM B571, ASTM B533, ASTM B604 – Plating / Coating Tests
- ASTM D2197 – Cure / Solvent Rub
- FLTM BI 106-01 – Adhesion
- ASTM D3170 – Chip / Mar Resistance
- GMW14700 (B&C) – Chip Resistance
- SAE J400 – Chip Resistance
- ASTM A90/A90M, ASTM A428/A428M – Coating Weight
- ASTM B487, ASTM B764, ASTM B556, ASTM B504, ASTM B499 – Coating Thickness
- ISO 1463, ISO 2177, ISO 2178, ISO 2808 – Coating / Plating Thickness
- ASTM B456 (Appendix X4, X5) – Dubpernell / Active Sites
- ASTM D3363 – Pencil Hardness
- FLTM BI 151-01 – Pencil Hardness
- GMW14333 – Gasoline Resistance
- GMW14671 – Oil Resistance
- GMW15891 – Cure (Solvent Rub)
Fastener Testing Standards
- ASTM F606/F606M – Tensile, Wedge, Proof Load, Hardness, Torsion
- ASTM A370 – Tensile / Mechanical Testing
- SAE J122, J123, J419 – Fastener Discontinuities
- ASTM F788, F812 – Fastener Testing
- SAE USCAR-7 – Hydrogen Embrittlement
Mechanical & Fatigue Testing Standards
Abrasion / Wear
- ASTM G65 – Rubber Wheel Abrasion
- ASTM G132 – Pin Abrasion
Bend / Break / Weld / Structural
- ASTM E190, E290 – Guided Bend
- AWS D1.1/D1.1M, AWS D1.2 – Weld Break / Weld Testing
Fatigue
- ASTM E466 – Load-Controlled Axial Fatigue
- GMN7152 (inactive)
- GMW16704, GMW16705 – Fatigue Procedures
- ASTM E606/E606M – Strain-Controlled LCF
- ASTM E23 / ASME IX / AWS D1.1, D1.5 – Charpy Impact
- ISO 148-1 – Charpy Impact
Modulus / Poisson’s Ratio
- ASTM E111 – Modulus
- ASTM E132 – Poisson’s Ratio
Tension / Tensile
- ASTM B557, ASTM E8/E8M, ASTM E21
- ISO 6892-1 – Metallic Tensile Testing
Hardness
- ASTM E10 – Brinell
- ASTM E18 – Rockwell
- SAE J417 – Superficial
- ASTM E92, E384 – Vickers / Microhardness
Metallurgical Testing Standards
- ASTM E3 – Sample Preparation
- SAE J423 – Case Depth
- ASTM E112, E930, E1181 – Grain Size
- ASTM A247, ASTM E45, ASTM E1245 – Inclusion Rating
- ASTM A262 (Practice A) – Intergranular Corrosion
- ASTM E340 – Macro-Etch
- ASTM E407 – Micro-Etch
- ASTM E883 – Optical Microscopy
- ASTM E1508 – SEM/EDS
- SAE J419, ASTM E1077 – Decarburization
Chemical & Analytical Testing Standards
(from A2LA scope + sell sheet)
- ICP-OES, ICP-MS (instrumentation—standard operating procedures)
- Combustion Analysis (C, S determination)
- GDS (Glow Discharge Spectroscopy)
- IPC-TM-650 2.4.53 – Dye & Pull
- IPC-TM-650 2.1.1 – Microsectioning
- IPC-A-610 – Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies (Personnel Certified)
- Nikki Tiernan — Certified IPC Specialist
- Maxwell Mayhew — Certified IPC Specialist
Corrosion & Environmental Exposure Standards
(This is Wixom’s strongest technical area)
Salt Spray / Fog
- ASTM B117
- GM4298P
- GMW3286
- ISO 9227
- FMVSS 209
- FORDBI 103-01
- Nissan NES M0140
Modified Salt Spray
- ASTM G85 (A1, A5)
Mixed Flowing Gas (MFG)
- ISO/IEC 60068-2-60
- ASTM B827
- ASTM B845
- EIA-364-65 / TP-65B
Humidity / Environmental Cycles
- ASTM D2247
- GM4465P
- DIN 50014
- ASTM D1735
- DIN EN ISO 6270-2
- Chrysler LP-463PB-22-01
- GMW14124
- GMW15288
- Chrysler PF.50014
Water Immersion
- FLTM BI 104-01
Corrodkote
- ASTM B380
- Ford BQ-004-01
- ASTM B456
Filiform Corrosion
- ASTM D2803
- GM15287
- FLTM BI 124-01
CASS (Copper-Accelerated Acetic Acid Salt Spray)
- ASTM B368
- ASTM B604
- GMW14458
- ASTM B456
Cyclic Corrosion
- Ford CETP 00.00-L-467
- VW PV 1210
- ASTM B456
- ASTM B604
- ASTM B995
- FLTM BI 123-03
- GMW14124
- GMW14872
- SAE J1563
- SAE J2334
- FMVSS 209
- Nissan NES M0007
- HES D2021
Russian Mud / Chloride Resistance
- ASTM B995
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