Methods and systems for testing materials

A material sample holder for testing an electromagnetic energy absorbent material, said material sample holder comprising:

• a first flange comprising a face and an aperture therethrough, said first flange configured to mate to a first surface of a material sample;
• and
• a second flange comprising a face and an aperture therethrough, said second flange configured to mate to a second surface of a material sample;
• said first and said second flanges configured to sandwich the material sample such that said face of said first flange engages said first surface and said face of said second flange engages said second surface.

A method of evaluating a material sample, said method comprising:

• sandwiching a material sample between a transmitting waveguide flange having an aperture therethrough in communication with a transmitting waveguide and a receiving waveguide flange having an aperture therethrough in communication with a receiving waveguide, the apertures configured to be completely covered by the material sample when the sample is installed in the flanges;
• emitting an electromagnetic wave through the transmitting waveguide to the material sample;
• receiving electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic wave through the sample;
• and
• determining a material property of the material sample using the emitted wave and the received energy.