Tensile test on specimen using 400K tensile machine
Materials testing is performed for a variety of reasons and can provide a wealth of information about the tested materials, products or specimens. Many products are used in critical applications where a failure could result in extensive damage or injury. Testing is often required for component materials that go into aerospace, nuclear, defense, medical, automotive and fabricated and manufactured products used by other industries. For many industry applications, materials testing is performed to certify material to a given standard or specification, or to verify that it meets other industry or customer criteria before it is put into use.
The testing may evaluate mechanical properties such as strength, hardness and elasticity, verify the composition or elemental content of the material or determine material characteristics. Using microscopes and SEM equipment, microhardness and microscopic examinations analyze various surface features to detect flaws and inconsistencies. Corrosion testing will determine if the material will hold up under given conditions such as humidity or a salt water environment.
Materials testing may also have a large role in failure analysis investigations to help identify defective products, inadequate materials and, ultimately, the cause of a failure. When materials testing services are purchased from an independent laboratory, a certified test report is provided with documented results, specifications and other test criteria.