Metallurgical Laboratory

In the metal industry, a metallurgical laboratory researches, processes, and produces various metals in order to understand their characteristics. Metallurgical Lab Technicians investigate the quality of materials for a variety of industries with many different specifications and requirements. Lab Techs perform various tests, analyses, inspections, and more on the metals used in many of the structures and products we use on a daily basis. Below are some of the testing performed by Lab Technicians in metallurgical laboratories:

Rockwell Hardness Testing: the Rockwell Scale was designed to test the hardness of metals by measuring the amount of pressure it can take before indentation

Vickers Microhardness Testing: an easier form of hardness testing than the Rockwell test, Vickers uses the same testing machine regardless of the hardness of the material and makes calculations based on the metals ability to resist indentation

Case Depth Hardness Testing: to calculate the thickness of the hardest layer of metal, this test leaves a series of impressions from the edge of the metal to the middle of the metal and calculates the impressions

Carbide Formation Testing: when the carbon in metals separate from the material from overheating, the product may not be as durable or precise as desired. Metallurgical lab workers test metals to determine the likelihood of this inconsistency occurring

Metallography: by analyzing metals under a microscope, laboratory technicians can determine the makeup and structure of a metal to understand its qualities such as durability and flexibility

Failure Analysis: in this metallurgical laboratory test, technicians analyze why machinery or metals fail in order to avoid the same consequences in future use

Microstructure Analysis: often performed using an optical or scanning electron microscope, this test examines the microstructure of a metal, providing insight used to determine if the structural parameters are within the required specifications

Micrographic Evaluation: metals are deeply analyzed under magnification to understand their structure and how well they will perform under specific conditions

Ultrasonic Inspection: unlike Rockwell and Vickers, ultrasonic testing does not destroy the material being tested, but instead uses ultrasonic waves to evaluate the metals

Penetrant Inspection: this lab process is used to discover defects in metals by applying a penetrant to locate impurities in non-porous materials

Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM): using a probe, metallurgical laboratory technicians calculate the geometry of metals

Dimensional Inspection: assesses the geometric characteristics to verify their compliance with design specifications

Tensile Testing: sometimes referred to as tension testing, this lab inspection process measures the breaking strength and elongation of a sample of metal

Metallurgical laboratory tests are an essential part of ensuring the metals used throughout the melting, forging, casting, extruding, heat treating and machining processes are meeting and maintaining the necessary specifications throughout each stage of manufacturing.

Laminin Corp is a trusted nationwide Metallurgy Recruiting Team that has helped a wide variety of companies to find the Metallurgist they need. Does your business need help a Metallurgical Recruiter? Contact us now to get started.