Innovative Inspection Solutions in Engineering and Technology
The ThermaMatrix mission is to help manufacturers achieve precise, efficient, and sustainable production by supporting their quality assurance process. Our cost-effective inspection and material characterization solutions are tailored to meet the high standards of modern, clean manufacturing by identifying material issues like residual stress, structural directionality, and defects with no damage to the components. By ensuring product reliability and reducing waste, ThermaMatrix enables its clients to maintain top-tier quality while supporting sustainable and efficient production goals across multiple sectors.
Our Mission
Our Technology
Our vision inspection technology represents a significant advancement of traditional vision systems. While conventional systems primarily capture static images for basic dimensional analysis, our patent-pending approach goes further. By capturing a dynamic series of images during a controlled thermal cycling process, our system enables through-thickness inspection with unparalleled versatility. This innovative method unlocks advanced capabilities, including the assessment of directional properties, thermomechanical response, defect detection, and residual stress, providing a comprehensive solution for modern quality control challenges.
Watson Vision Inspection Technology
The Watson is a cutting-edge characterization tool designed specifically for research and development, utilizing ThermaMatrix’s advanced vision inspection technology. Inspired by Sherlock Holmes' trusted sidekick, Watson serves as the ultimate "inspection partner" for researchers. This patent-pending technology combines local heating with high-resolution camera capabilities to provide precise, real-time, full-field measurements across a wide range of materials, including metals, composites, and ceramics. Watson offers flexible capabilities in structural directionality, thermomechanical response, residual stress monitoring, and defect detection, empowering researchers to unlock new insights and maximize potential in material analysis.
Our Story
ThermaMatrix, Inc., founded in May 2023 by Dr. Ryan Spencer, emerged from his doctoral research at the University of Tennessee, where he pioneered a novel vision inspection technology. With over a decade of experience in nondestructive inspection (NDI), Dr. Spencer leads a team of experts in NDI, material characterization, and metrology. Together, they bring decades of advanced knowledge in material science, engineering, and quality control, positioning ThermaMatrix as an innovative force.
The company has received invaluable support from the University of Tennessee and initiatives like the NSF I-Corps Mid-South Hub regional program and the Spark CleanTech Accelerator, which enhanced its customer discovery and business strategy. Currently, as part of the DOE-AMMTO-funded Innovation Crossroads Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program, ThermaMatrix is advancing its technology with the help of Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers and student interns. Well-integrated within the East Tennessee ecosystem, ThermaMatrix leverages partnerships with leading organizations such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Institute of Advanced Composites Materials Innovation and America’s Cutting Edge, enabling the company to drive forward impactful innovations in NDI and material characterization.
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