Metallurgical Testing

Bend

Bend testing determines the ductility or the strength of a material by bending the material over a given radius. Following the bend, the sample is inspected for cracks on the outer surface. Bend testing provides insight into the modulus of elasticity and the bending strength of a material.

Hardness

A hardness test is typically performed by pressing a specifically dimensioned and loaded object (indenter) into the surface of the material you are testing. The hardness is determined by measuring the depth of indenter penetration or by measuring the size of the impression left by an indenter.

Impact

Impact Testing of metals is performed to determine the impact resistance or toughness of materials by calculating the amount of energy absorbed during fracture. The impact test is performed at various temperatures to uncover any effects on impact energy.

Macro Etching

Macroetch examination is often performed on welds to assess quality or on fracture surfaces to correlate surface characteristics with failure mechanism or loading conditions. This simple technique utilizes optical light at low magnification and is often performed non-destructively with little surface preparation.

Material Analysis

Material Analysis determines the condition and makeup of your materials with macro, micro and SEM examinations. These analyses reveal microstructure, processes performed on the material during manufacture and whether or not the materials meet the required specification(s) to ensure durability in the intended use.

Micro Hardness

This is a method of determine a material’s hardness or resistance to penetration when test samples are very small or thin.

Photomicrographs

Photomicrography is photographing the microstrctures or optical microscopic views. Usually attaching a digital camera attachment to the optical microscope, the optical views could be digitally saved and make materials easier to see.

Shear

A shear test is designed to apply stress to a test sample so that it experiences a sliding failure along a plane that is parallel to the forces applied. Generally, shear forces cause one surface of a material to move in one direction and the other surface to move in the opposite direction so that the material is stressed in a sliding motion.

Tensile

This is one of the most common mechanical testing techniques. It is used to find out how strong a material is and also how much it can be stretched before it breaks. This test method is used to determine yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, ductility, strain hardening characteristics, Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio.

Torque

Torque testing is a way of determining how an object will react when it is being turned – during normal operation or being twisted until it deliberately fails or breaks. This rotational force can be ‘dynamic’ often delivered at ultra-high speed or ‘static’ at a much lower speed.

Visual Inspection CWI (Certified Welding Inspector)

Visual inspection is a non-destructive testing (NDT) weld quality testing process where a weld is examined with the eye to determine surface discontinuities. It is the most common method of weld quality testing