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Non-Destructive Hardness Testing

Nondestructive testing (NDT) or Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is a method of materials testing to assess the characteristics of a component without altering or destroying it. NDT is important in the materials testing industry where quick, dependable information on finished or raw material is needed. This may occur during the production stage, during the service life […]

Best Practices Rockwell Hardness Testing

Hardness Testing Basics Hardness, as applied to most materials, and in particular metals, is a valuable, revealing, and commonly employed mechanical test that has been in use in various forms for more than 250 years. As a material property, its value and importance cannot be understated; the information from a hardness test can be used […]

Hardness Testing Concepts

Hardness, as applied to most materials, and in particular metals, is a valuable, revealing, and commonly employed mechanical test that has been in use in various forms for more than 250 years. Certainly, as a material property, its value and importance cannot be understated, the information from a hardness test can complement and often be […]

History of Hardness Testing

Early Hardness Testing Hardness, as applied to most materials, and in particular metals, is a valuable, revealing, and commonly employed mechanical test that has been in use in various forms for over 250 years. Certainly, as a material property, its value and importance cannot be understated, the information from a hardness test can complement and […]

Aluminum Metallographic Specimen Preparation and Testing

The following are our recommendations for preparing aluminum for metallographic specimen testing according to common characteristics. We will cover both the four step and five step methods for preparing aluminum as well as some helpful tips during specimen preparation and testing. Etching Aluminum is a soft, ductile metal. Deformation induced damage is a common preparation […]

Metallographic Polishing Abrasives

Polishing usually involves the use of one or more of the following abrasives: diamond, aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO2) in collidal suspension. For certain materials, cerium oxide, chromium oxide, magnesium oxide or iron oxide may be used, although these the late 1920s, as Hoyt [7] mentions a visit to the Carboloy plant […]