Metallic Tensile Test Specimens

We provide a varied range of metallic tensile test specimens which can be incorporated in numerous modules embedded in University and College courses.

Facilities for repeatedly producing good quality specimens in-house are not always available, and if they are it may not always be practical, cost effective or convenient.

Buying them from Modulus & Matrix could be the simpler option !

Our range of metallic tensile test specimens have a good turned finish to size B, (nominally 20 square mms cross-sectional area), round with button-ends, generally to BS EN ISO 6892, and colour-coded for identification. (see dimensions)

If you are an academic, student, laboratory technician or a workshop manager, or if you work for procurement, tasked with finding a supplier of test specimens, contact us by email or call us on (44) 01749 870737.

Ferrous Test Specimens

  • 0.1% carbon steel, BS970/EN1A/230M07, as drawn, (YELLOW)
    Multi-turned parts
  • 0.4% carbon steel, BS970/EN8/080A42, as drawn, (GREEN)
    Shafts, stressed pins, studs, keyways, structural engineering
  • 0.55% carbon steel, BS970/EN9/070M55, annealed, (BLUE)
    Gears, sprockets, knives, cams, shafts, hammers
  • 1.0% carbon steel, BS1407 (silver steel), annealed, (RED)
    Engraving tools, axles, pins, screwdrivers, taps and drills

Non-Ferrous Test Specimens

  • Aluminium alloy 6082 T6 tempered (solution treated, artificially aged)
    Beer barrels, cranes, bridges, structural
  • 60/40 Brass CZ121, as drawn
    Water taps, castings, fasteners, watch components
  • Copper C101, as drawn
    Bio-medical, domestic cookware, busbars, water pipes, valves

These are our standard metallics but we also have experience of others such as Stainless Steel, Titanium and Cast Irons.

Tensile test machine and graphic read-out display computer

Tensile test machine and graphic read out display

High Carbon Steel vs ‘Silver Steel’

When 0.8% carbon steel became unavailable in the bar size and quantities needed for us to produce tensile test specimens we decided to meet continuing demand by introducing an annealed 1.0% carbon steel, known as ‘silver steel’, which was well received and its mechanical properties triggered interesting debates between Academics, Students and Technicians!

Metallic Tensile Test Specimens

Metallic Tensile Test Specimens

About Metals Testing

The selection and testing of metals and alloys is important for any product, from bio-medical items, all forms of transportation vehicles, building & construction projects.

Manufacturers are continually searching for better materials and processes to enhance the product, improve health & safety aspects, and reduce costs. As an example, you will learn that the microstructure and mechanical properties of metals can be radically altered by a heat treatment process, opening up more areas where they could be used.

A series of tensile tests allows comparison of a batch of material, with or without heat treatment and/or between materials.

However, to ensure valid and consistent test results, certain criteria should be met;

  • The test specimen shape and dimensions should be in accordance with a recognised standard. (BS EN ISO 6892, ASTM E8)
  • Use a calibrated tensile test machine (tensometer) of sufficient load and displacement capacity with means to record the X-Y data.
  • Choose suitable specimen holders giving good alignment throughout the test.
  • Maintain a constant speed of test throughout.

Only then can tensile tests be replicated and their results stored and compared with confidence.

Normalising, Annealing, Quenching and Tempering are good examples of methods used to heat-treat carbon steels which are in the as drawn condition.

Normalising

For a carbon steel, heat to a suitable temperature, typically between 840 and 900 degrees Celsius, hold for 1 hour then air-cool.

Annealing

For a carbon steel, heat to a suitable temperature slightly lower than for normalising, hold for 1 hour, then cool in the switched-off furnace.

Quenching and Tempering

For a carbon steel 0.4% and above, heat to normalising temperature then cool rapidly by quenching in water, brine or oil. To temper, re-heat the quenched steel to below 723 degrees Celsius’ and then cool.

Equilibrium Diagram - Steels and Cast Irons_comp

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Courses where our test specimens can be used

Universities and Colleges run specific modules which cover materials testing within their courses and these modules can have a variety of names: Engineering Materials, Materials and Construction, Materials Engineering, Materials Properties, Materials Science, Materials Testing, Mechanical Properties of Materials, Properties of Materials, Strength of Materials.

The modules can be found in the following courses:

  • Aeronautical Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
  • Building Technology
  • Chemistry and Process Engineering
  • Civil Engineering and Materials Science
  • Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
  • Construction and Engineering
  • Design and Technology
  • Engineering, Design and Mathematics
  • Engineering and Materials Science
  • Engineering Science and Technology
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Engineering and the Built Environment
  • Engineering and Computing
  • Engineering and Design
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Marine Engineering
  • Maritime and Technology
  • Materials
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mathematics, Computing and Technology
  • Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
  • Mechanical and Automotive Engineering
  • Mechanical, Bio-Medical and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Mechanical Design and Manufacture
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing Engineering and Management
  • Mechanical and Polymer Engineering
  • Mechanical and Systems Engineering
  • Medical and Bio-Engineering
  • Metallurgy
  • Science, Engineering and Computing
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM)
  • Structural Engineering
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