Materials Technology

Material Testing

Overview Testing MaterialsHardness Testing

Direct Reading Hardness Testing Machine (Vickers or Brinell)Measures the materials resistance to indentation or scratchingIndenterTest Component Placed on TableTable Height AdjustmentActivating leverHardness Value Read Directly From Dial

Overview Testing MaterialsVickers Hardness Testing

Measures the materials resistance to indentation or scratchingA square pyramid shaped indenter (point angle 136) is forced into the specimen. The diagonal length of the indentedsquare is measured. This measurement is taken by a special microscope for accuracy.It is then converted into a Vickers hardnessnumber

Overview Testing MaterialsBrinell Hardness Testing

Measures the materials resistance to indentation or scratchingThe Brinell hardness test uses a hardened steel or tungsten carbide ball of 10mm, 5mm or 1mm diameter. The diameter of the indentation is measured and it is used to indicate the hardness of the material

Overview Testing Materials`Simple Workshop Test (Hardness)

Heavy PlungerClear Acrylic TubeSpecimen to be TestedSteel Ball BearingThe Plunger is dropped from a 500mm height onto different materials.The indentations on each test piece are measured.The deeper the indentation the softer the material

Overview Testing MaterialsIzod Impact Test

Measures a materials toughnessTest Specimen Held VerticallyVicePendulumStart Position of PendulumScale to read energy absorbed in breaking the specimen

Overview Testing Materials`Izod Impact Test

Measures a materials toughnessThe Specimen is held vertically in a viceThe notch on the specimen faces the pendulumThe striking energy of the pendulum is 167 JoulesPendulumViceSpecimen

Overview Testing Materials`Charpy Impact Test

Measures a materials toughnessThe Specimen is held horizontally between two supportsThe notch on the specimen faces away from the pendulumThe striking energy of the pendulum is 300 JoulesPendulumSupportSpecimen

Overview Testing Materials`Simple Workshop Test (Toughness)

This is another comparative test.The specimen pieces are held vertically in a vice and hit with a hammerIt is important to wear a face shield or goggles and for spectators to stand well back. Brittle materials will fracture and possibly splinter.

SpecimenViceHammerDuctile Material

`Overview Testing Materials`Simple Workshop Test (Deflection)

This is another comparative testThe specimen is placed on the supportsWeights are placed on the platform, pushing the plunger down causing the specimen to deflect Specimens can be tested to destruction or their deflection is measured when the same weight is applied to each in turn

SpecimenSupportsPlungerWeights Platform

Overview Testing Materials`Tensile Testing

Measures a materials tensile strengthSimple Tensile Testing MachineClamps for Holding SpecimenDial Gauge to Measure Extension of Specimen

Overview Testing Materials`Simple Workshop Test (Stiffness)

This is a comparative test. The material to be tested is clamped to a bench.Weights are applied to the free end.The amount of deflection of each material is measured and compared with each other

DeflectionApplied WeightsClampedSpecimen