What is the typical turnaround time from sample submission to receiving an STA test report?

Standard Service Timeline

Yes. STA reports can typically be scheduled from sample receipt through suitability review, preparation, instrument setup, thermal program, analysis, interpretation, and report approval. An illustrative planning range of 5-7 business days; timing depends on Plastics or Powder Bed Fusion sample condition, atmosphere, heating rate, number of runs, queue, and report depth. For an RFQ, provide material, process, form, quantity, temperature range, atmosphere, acceptance question, and delivery milestone, then confirm the schedule after triage.

Factors Influencing Analysis Duration

Sample-Specific Considerations

A Ceramic or Resins sample may need drying, conditioning, grinding, or a custom crucible, which can extend preparation. Record the as-received and prepared states, verify representativeness and contamination control, and hold the schedule if the thermal program needs method development.

Instrumental and Analytical Complexity

A Superalloy or Titanium Alloy program can require multiple atmospheres, long ramps, repeat runs, or complementary interpretation. Define the heating rate, temperature range, sample state, atmosphere, calibration, and report owner; verify the curve and record any re-run or hold point before release.

Expedited and Priority Service Options

Accelerated STA Analysis

An accelerated STA slot may target the locked 3-4 business day turnaround for Rapid Prototyping, Automotive or Consumer Electronics projects, subject to capacity, sample suitability, calibration, and review. It cannot skip atmosphere checks or interpretation. Provide the material, form, quantity, temperature program, atmosphere, acceptance criterion, report format, and deadline in the RFQ, then confirm whether the result is screening or release evidence.

Project Management Flexibility

For Aerospace and Aviation investigations, preliminary STA findings can support a time-sensitive decision while complementary tests remain open. Label preliminary data, preserve raw curves and settings, identify the unresolved limitation, and obtain the authorized final disposition after the complete report is verified.

What the Turnaround Estimate Covers

An STA report may require sample suitability review, preparation, instrument setup, calibration, blank or reference checks, the thermal program, repeat runs, curve interpretation, and report approval. The thermal run may be short while the complete schedule is longer because an ambiguous event often needs a second program.

Provide material identity, sample form, program, atmosphere, temperature range, heating rate, number of samples, required plots, and the decision deadline. Confirm whether the quote includes interpretation and recommendations or only raw TG and DSC curves.

Ask whether the schedule includes drying, duplicate runs, blank correction, atmosphere change, data export, and technical review. If the first trace shows overlapping events, the next program should be agreed as a controlled scope change rather than silently extending the report or selecting a convenient interpretation.

When a first run contains overlapping mass-loss or heat-flow events, the report should identify the uncertainty and propose a controlled follow-up program. That may include a slower ramp, a different atmosphere, a blank correction, an isothermal hold, or a repeat sample. The customer should approve the change because it can affect both schedule and interpretation. Raw curves, processed curves, program file, and instrument conditions should be retained for review.

The report should identify whether the requested turnaround includes a process-window recommendation or only measurement output. A recommendation should connect the selected program to the material state, atmosphere, heating rate, hold points, and verification run. For a production change, retain the original trace and approval record so the selected window can be audited later.

When a curve contains overlapping events, the report should show the raw and processed traces and identify the basis for separating them. If the proposed window has not been confirmed on representative geometry, describe it as a development condition and require a controlled trial before production release.

Turnaround includes sample review, pan and balance checks, method setup, purge or atmosphere stabilization, run time, data interpretation, and report approval. A long thermal program or repeat run can dominate the schedule. For an RFQ, state the temperature range, heating rate, atmosphere, number of runs, comparison material, required curves, and acceptance question. The report should identify any event that needs a complementary test before release.

Long thermal programs, repeat runs, baseline checks, and interpretation can take longer than the instrument ramp itself. State the temperature range, heating rate, atmosphere, number of samples, comparison material, required curves, and report deadline. Confirm whether a follow-up furnace trial or microscopy is included when the thermal event is not sufficient to make a release decision.