Metallurgy FAQs
Titan Metallurgy is not only here to test your products and materials, but we are also here to educate our customers about our industry and practices to instill confidence in all our customers that Titan Metallurgy is the right choice for their material testing needs. Below you will find answers to many questions about both Titan’s policies and information about tests, standards, and the metallurgy industry.
If you do not see your question below, please reach out to us!
Titan Metallurgy Company Questions and Information
Titan became an independent company in 2003, but our laboratory operated as part of the Eaton Steel Bar Company for several years before then. Eaton Steel was started in 1953, and prides itself on re-investment in capital and continuously exceeding its customers’ expectations. Our experience in the steel industry is one of our strongest attributes.
About Us
Titan is open Monday Friday from 8am to 5pm.
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Yes. Please feel free to download, view, and print our terms and conditions.
Terms & Conditions
Yes. The confidentiality agreement can be downloaded, signed, and faxed to Titan at (248) 398-1434. You may also scan and email us a copy at qanda@titanmetallurgy.com. A Titan representative will sign the agreement and fax or email it back to you for your records.
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Yes. Please feel free to download, view, and print our a2la scope of accreditation and certificate.
Certifications
Yes! This capability was added in the 4th quarter, 2018. We have a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with secondary and backscattered electron detectors, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), as well as the ability to use a low vacuum/ESEM mode for non-conductive or biological samples. Feel free to contact us about utilizing the equipment or us providing an analysis for you.
SEM Analysis (Scanning Electron Microscope)
- ISO 17025 specifically applies to testing and calibration labs. ISO 9001 can apply to any industry.
Quoting and Payment Questions and Information
Call or email! We may ask for photographs to help ensure we quote accurately.
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Sample dimensions and material type. Depending on the circumstance, we may ask for a photo or two.
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Yes. Just fill out the form on the Request a Quote page or at the bottom of the Test page and we will contact you by email or phone to answer questions and make arrangements for a metallurgical test. When preparations are complete, we’ll be ready for your sample(s) to arrive at the lab. When they do, the clock starts for us to provide you with the fastest turnaround time in the business.
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Yes. All of our laboratory reports, including digital images, are e-mailed to our customers. We also accommodate requests for hard copies.
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Electronically- they will be emailed to you from our system generated email.
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In as little is 24-48 hours with expedited testing.
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Titan begins recording turnaround time when samples are received at our door. Typically, we have turnaround time of 24-48 hours for metallurgical testing.
Metallurgical Testing
Contact us for pricing.
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Net 30 or Credit Card
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Yes. We truly understand the benefit of relationship building, and appropriate discounts for larger volumes of tests is one way that Titan can show appreciation to our customers.
Request A Quote
Yes, this needs to be noted on the purchase order prior to testing.
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Yes. Titan has contingency plans to outsource laboratory services to insure proper turnaround time for our customers in the case of an inability to perform any testing. Part of the contingency plans are to inform the customer as soon as a situation arises, and to wait for authorization from the customer before proceeding with any outsourcing of testing.
Testing Questions and Information
We will need at least 2 grams of material for proper testing.
Carbon / Sulfur Analysis
Surface preparation is the process of cutting, grinding, and or polishing a sample to expose the raw material. We take care of all sample preparation!
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Typically, 5-10 business days for root cause failure analysis. Call us for a quote.
Failure Analysis
ISO 17025 specifically applies to testing and calibration labs. ISO 9001 can apply to any industry.
Yes. Titan performs micro-cleanliness to common international standards for determining the inclusion content of steel.
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Yes. Titan owns high-speed turning centers to prepare 0.505″, 0.252”, and 0.160” tensile specimens to common ASTM standards.
Tensile Testing
Yes. Sometimes, sample preparation and non-destructive testing can lead to little or no sample material left over. If there is material left over, you can request that it be sent back to you. Titan will add the shipping cost to your invoice. If you do not request the return of your sample(s), any leftover material will be stored at Titan for up to one year after the completion of testing.
Mechanical Testing
Electronically- they will be emailed to you from our system generated email.
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In as little is 24-48 hours with expedited testing.
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We do not perform Ultrasonic Testing.
Typically, we need a flat area at least the size of a US nickel.
Chemistry Testing (OES)
- For a sheet or plate, we need a minimum of 5” in length x ½” wide for a 1” gauge length.
- For a sheet or plate, we need a minimum of 8” in length x 1” wide for a 2” gauge length
- For a round specimen, we need a minimum of 3.5” in length for a tensile sample with a 1” gauge length. The grip end is threaded so we cannot test porous material such as castings, AM parts, or PM parts with this sample dimension.
- If a 2” gauge length is needed for a round specimen > 0.875” in dia, we need 8” in length
- If a 2” gauge length is needed for a round specimen 0.875” ≥D≥ 0.625” we need 12” in length.
Tensile Testing
Yes, this needs to be noted on the purchase order prior to testing.
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Mechanical and Metallurgical Test Questions and Information
Mechanical testing includes several testing methods that measure different aspects of a material including its tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, reduction of area, impact strength and hardness.
Mechanical Testing
Yes, we perform Charpy Impact Tests. We have a Tinius Olsen impact tester which can test in either ft-lbs or joules. Titan also has the technology to prepare samples for cold-temperature testing to -70°F, as well as a furnace to do elevated temperature testing.
Charpy Impact Testing
During the Charpy impact test, a calibrated pendulum swings from a set height and strikes a machined material sample, breaking it. A notch is cut into a sample as a controlled breaking point. The energy transferred to the material can be inferred by comparing the difference in the height of the hammer before and after the fracture (energy absorbed by the fracture event).
Charpy Impact Testing
Charpy Impact testing measures a materials toughness and ductility at various operating temperatures.
Charpy Impact Testing
Tensile testing is a mechanical test that exerts a force by pulling on one end of a sample until the sample has broken in the middle to measure tensile strength, yield point, elongation, and reduction of area.
Tensile Testing
Tensile testing measures tensile strength, yield point, elongation, and reduction of area of a sample or product.
Tensile Testing
Tensile testing is a mechanical test that exerts a force by pulling on one end of a sample until the sample has broken in the middle. This process provides several key characteristic data of the sample.
Tensile Testing
Tensile testing, also known as Yield Strength tests are performed to common international standards such as ASTM A370 and ASTM E8/E8M.
Tensile Testing
There are three main hardness testing methods including Brinell, Rockwell, and microhardness testing methods.
Hardness Testing
Rockwell Hardness test measures the resistance of a material to deforming when a force is applied via an indenter. Rockwell is just one of several different forms of this test that focuses on a small, localized area of a sample and can be performed on smaller samples or products.
Hardness Testing
Rockwell Hardness test is used to measure the hardness of a material by how resistant it is to deforming when a force is applied via an indenter.
Hardness Testing
Rockwell and Brinell hardness tests are very similar but use different indenter methods to measure a sample or product’s hardness. Typically with Brinell testing, a larger area of the sample is needed for a wider range of hardness tests.
Hardness Testing
Vickers Hardness Testing uses a smaller indenter than Brinell Tests and is meant to be used on a smaller area of a material or sample.
https://www.titanmetallurgy.com/mechanical-testing/hardness-testing/
Vickers Hardness Testing only provides information on a small area of a sample or material. If there is any question of the material’s uniformity, this test may not provide all the information needed for the sample.
Hardness Testing
Microhardness testing is used to test a material or sample’s hardness using a lighter load and a smaller indenter than other hardness tests. This is particularly important for samples that are very small or too thin to use other methods of hardness testing.
Microhardness Testing
We haven’t met a sample we couldn’t mount and polish yet. Test us.
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Destructive testing refers to methods of mechanical testing that typically destroys or alters a sample to be unusable afterward. This can be important for testing both unfinished materials and finished products to measure physical attributes of the sample or product.
Mechanical Testing
Non destructive testing, or NDE, refers to methods of testing that do not destroy the sample or product in the process of testing. Many physical attributes are unable to be measured through NDT, but Ultrasonic Testing and Optical Emission Spectrometry can provide valuable information on a material or sample.
https://www.titanmetallurgy.com/other-services/non-destructive-testing/
Metallurgical material testing includes both destructive and non-destructive testing methods that provide information about a material’s composition, structure, or mechanical properties.
Mechanical Testing
SEM or Scanning Electron Microscope is used to view specific factors within a sample. SEM is used to observe different elements, grain structure, and surface topography of a sample or product.
SEM Analysis (Scanning Electron Microscope)
SEM analysis uses two main methods including secondary electron imaging and backscatter electron imaging to provide high-resolution images of material samples at up to 10000X magnification.
SEM Analysis (Scanning Electron Microscope)
Backscatter electron imaging can distinguish different elements from each other based on weight or mass, with heavier elements appearing brighter to the SEM. Secondary electron imaging is typically used for highly detailed images of a sample’s surface topography.
SEM Analysis (Scanning Electron Microscope)
Material Failure Analysis analyzes the root cause of a material or part failure. By observing physical and chemical attributes of a material or product, Titan Metallurgy can help provide an explanation for a material or part failure.
Failure Analysis
Spectrometry testing, or chemical testing, is done to learn about the chemical makeup of a material or sample. This test can be performed to ensure materials provided for manufacturing are up to standard for their intended use.
In-House Spectrometry
