Materials Test Laboratory

Destructive material testing is used for the determination of material characteristics or material parameters. Various methods are used during performance of the materials tests. The required characteristic values are based on current standards unless otherwise specifically agreed with the customer.

Materials tests play an important role during investigations of damage incidents and the assessment of the causes of damage. The MAN materials tests laboratory (accredited according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025) offers you the opportunity to test your workpieces in tensile tests, notched bar impact tests, bending tests, and hardness tests according to Brinell, Rockwell, Vickers. 

Tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation at break are determined using standardized tensile samples. Tensile tests are also used to assess the maximum force to fracture (breaking strength) during component tests for chains, pipes, stair treads, etc. The same test equipment can be used to test foams, sandwich elements, and other materials for compressive strength.

The notched bar impact test is used to determine the toughness of materials when subjected to impact forces and under existing notch effects. A notched test specimen is shattered by a swinging pendulum and the toughness of the material is measured. If requested, the lateral expansion and the crystalline proportion of breakage can be measured along with the notched bar impact work. This test can be performed according to ISO specifications.

During the bending test, the deformation capacity of a material and whether damage occurs to the component at a certain bending angle are assessed. This test is used during procedure tests to detect a lack of fusion in some processes.

Determining the hardness of a material is a way to measure its resistance to penetration by other, harder workpieces.

The hardness can be determined by various means:

• Standard test methods (Brinell, Rockwell, Vickers)

Hardness testing of welding seams and their heat-affected zones reveals information about the welding process and is a component of procedure tests.

The material undergoes a thorough structural transformation during processes such as heat treatment and surface hardening. Hardness testing can play an especially decisive role in such cases.

Optical emission spectrometry for the determination of the chemical composition of Fe-, Al-, Ni-, and Cu-based materials.

During the performance of subsequent materials tests, we utilize optical emission spectrometry (OES) to cross-check the melt analysis. By simultaneously measuring as many as 30 elements, we are able to analyze accurately the chemical composition of iron (Fe)-, aluminum (Al)-, nickel (Ni)-, and copper (Cu)-based materials.

• Metallographic microsection preparation
• Stereo microscopy and reflected light microscopy
• Microstructure evaluation
• Determination of degree of purity
• Grain size determination
• Replica evaluation

Metallography is the process used to determine the microstructure and structure of materials. Defects in melting, manufacturing, and work processes can alter material properties to such an extent that damage can occur during operation. Microscopic determination of the degree of purity and grain size and structural evaluation (macrostructural section/microstructural section) provide information about  the service and production properties of a material. The analysis of replicas permits the non-destructive analysis of component surfaces.

• Fractured surface examination and cause clarification
• Display of detailed surface structures
• Microanalysis, detection of trace elements

Scanning electron microscopy images smooth and rough surfaces with great depth of field and high resolution and is a part of the investigation of the occurrence of damage. Typical uses are examinations of fractured surfaces (fractography), assessment of surfaces, coatings, wear, thickness determination on coatings, structure characterization, determination of crystal orientations, or examination of homogeneity. We use EDX analysis (energy-dispersive X-ray analysis) for coating examination, e.g., to determine the composition of corrosion residues or oxide layers.

When damage has occurred, the damage analysis establishes correlations between the damage and possible influencing factors. Using the information obtained in the practice assessment, we can perform a fracture assessment and determine the possible cause of any damage or can answer questions about measures for preventing future damage.

The target-oriented examination and evaluation of corrosion images (also known as rust examination) helps to understand the origin and spread of corrosion damage (rust damage) and to make any necessary recommendations.

We support you in the development of welding, spraying, and galvanic manufacturing processes. Samples are examined and evaluated metallographically according to previously defined criteria (pore size, crack length, pore frequency, etc.).

• Penetrant testing and magnetic particle tests for the detection of surface defects

We offer non-destructive tests as part of welding, work, and process tests as well as general materials examinations. Our Level-2 certified inspectors perform visual inspections, penetrant inspections, and magnetic particle inspections on your components for evidence of material defects. 

We use our measurement technology as support of our production examinations, at which times we measure length, shape, and position tolerances and roughness.