Material Properties and Testing Methods: Comprehensive Insights

Testing Properties of Materials

Conformation

Used to know the degree of suitability of materials to manufacture parts.

Features

Used to know the mechanical characteristics of metal.

Understanding the Mechanical Properties of Materials

Used to find out the mechanical properties of materials.

Defects

Used to verify that there are no defects in the parts.

Mechanical Properties

• Hardness
• Tensile strength
• Yield strength
• and so on

Types of Hardness Measurements

• Scratch
• Penetration
• Rebound

Penetration Methods

• Brinell: A steel ball is used as the indenter, and the measurement is the area that the steel ball leaves.
• Rockwell: A diamond-tipped conical tip is used for hard materials, and a spherical tip is used for soft materials. Hardness is found by measuring the depth of the indentation.
• Vickers: A pyramidal diamond tip with a square base is used, and the lengths of the diagonals of the imprint are measured.

Static Tests

• Hardness: Mechanical resistance.
• Traction: Load and elongation of metals.
• Compression: Checked the compression load before rupture.
• Flexion: Elongation of the metal before rupture.
• Fatigue: Ability to withstand variable loads without breaking.

Conformation Tests

• Folding
• Stamping
• Forging

Acrimony

When a change in structure occurs due to the deformation of grains and tensions caused.

Usual Treatments for Metals

• Thermal
• Mechanical
• Thermochemical
• Electrolytic

Objective of Heat Treatments for Steel

To improve the characteristics and mechanical properties.

Classification of Heat Treatments

• Tempering
• Annealing
• Hardening
• Normalizing

Tempering Objective

Heat stainless steel to transform everything into austenite, then cool it rapidly, becoming martensite.

Annealing Objective

Heat below the annealing temperature, followed by air cooling, normally designed to eliminate internal tensions and mitigate the effects of quenching, increasing toughness and decreasing hardness.

Thermochemical Treatments Objective

Improving the mechanical properties and wear resistance without altering its internal structure. These treatments include:

• Cementation
• Nitriding
• Cyaniding
• Carbonitriding
• Sulfinization

Cementation

It brings carbon to the surface of steel at a suitable temperature.

Electrolytic Treatments Objective

To protect against the action of metal corrosion. These coverings include:

• Chrome
• Nickel
• Zinc
• Copper