Mechanical tests on metal samples

CRM Group makes intensive use of metallographic analyses to identify microstructures on the bulk or on the surface of solid samples (metals, lumpy materials, etc), including powders and fine-grained materials.

The equipment at CRM Group includes:

  • Sampling and machining tools to prepare metal samples in accordance with test requirements or standards.
  • The necessary devices to carry-out comprehensive mechanical tests for a wide range of metals, shapes and applications. Most of these tests are performed according to ISO standards and some are covered by BELAC accreditation.

Sampling and machining tools

Tensile and compression tests

Fatigue tests

Hardness tests

Toughness / Impact tests

Creep tests & dilatometry

Formability tests

 

Sampling and machining tools

Up-to-date preparation techniques
All samples preparation is available in-house (Cutting, Electro-Cutting, Grinding, Classic specimen mounting (hot/cold/under Vacuum, Cross-section polishing)

 

Tensile and compression tests

Optical microscopy
Optical metallography (bright field/dark field/polarisation/CID contrasts) with different image analysis on small to very large surface area

 

Fatigue tests

Electron microscopy
Advanced combination of Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM)
with large chambers, with ISO17025 accreditation on magnification and X-ray analysis
Field emission gun SEM from JEOL (7001F) and from Zeiss (Ultra 55 and SigmaVP)
Microscope with variable pressure microscope allows easier insulator characterization and in this equipment, in-situ mechanical testing devices (tensile and bending tests)
  With a combination of analysers

  •    X-ray Energy dispersive (EDS), X-ray Wavelength dispersive (WDS) for elemental chemistry
  •   Electron Back Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) for cristallographic identification

These tools allow:

  • Local chemistry, size and shape semi-quantification
  • Crystal structure and orientation
  • Strain measurements
 

Hardness tests

Force Microscopy
Atomic Force Microscopy allows to characterize the surface morphology down to tiny features. Surface profile as well as roughness can be measured.
This characterisation is performed in air or under specific conditions

 

Toughness / Impact tests

On-site optical metallography is also possible.

Combined to other analyses (chemistry and/or hardness), on-site metallography allows materials identification up to a certain extent.  

 

Creep tests & dilatometry

These tests available at CRM Group focus on properties of metals at moderate and high temperatures.

Creep testing, to evaluate the tendency of a material to slowly deform permanently under constant stress:

  • Range of temperature: 20°C to 850°C
  • Range of load: 0 to 10 kN

Dilatometry:

  • Range of temperature: 20 to 1600°C
  • Control of cooling speed (furnace)
 

Formability tests

Deep drawing, hole expansion tests and bending tests can be performed on a LVD 100 t hydraulic press:

  • Deep drawing test results are presented as the LDR ratio, blankholder force and deep drawing curve.
  • Hole expansion tests are performed according to the ISO TC 164/SCN 2N 317 standard with a 60° conical punch and a test speed < 1mm/s. The test result is presented as a hole expansion value in %.
  • Bending tests are performed in either 90° V-bending or U-bending modus. V-bending can be done with punch radii of 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12mm and U-bending with a 100mm wide punch having either 3 or 6mm radius.