This document describes various methods for testing materials, including hardness, toughness, deflection, and tensile strength. It outlines direct reading hardness tests using Vickers or Brinell machines, as well as simple drop tests using a steel ball or plunger. Impact tests like the Izod and Charpy tests measure toughness by applying a fixed energy pendulum strike. Other simple tests compare the deflection or breaking of materials under applied weights or hammer strikes. Tensile testing clamps a specimen to measure its extension and breaking point. The tests provide both quantitative and comparative data on key material properties.

1. Materials Technology
Material Testing

2. Overview – Testing Materials
Hardness Testing
Direct Reading Hardness Testing
Machine (Vickers or Brinell)
Measures the materials resistance to indentation or scratching
Indenter
Test Component
Placed on Table
Table Height
Adjustment
Activating lever
Hardness Value
Read Directly From
Dial

3. Overview – Testing Materials
Vickers Hardness Testing
Measures the materials resistance to indentation or scratching
A square pyramid shaped
indenter (point angle 136°) is
forced into the specimen. The
diagonal length of the indented
square is measured. This
measurement is taken by a
special microscope for accuracy.
It is then converted into a
Vickers hardness
number

4. Overview – Testing Materials
Brinell Hardness Testing
Measures the materials resistance to indentation or scratching
The Brinell hardness test
uses a hardened steel or
tungsten carbide ball of
10mm, 5mm or 1mm
diameter. The diameter of
the indentation is measured
and it is used to indicate the
hardness of the material

5. Overview – Testing Materials`
Simple Workshop Test (Hardness)
Heavy Plunger
Clear Acrylic Tube
Specimen to be Tested
Steel Ball Bearing
The Plunger is dropped
from a 500mm height
onto different materials.
The indentations on
each test piece are
measured.
The deeper the
indentation – the softer
the material

6. Overview – Testing Materials
Izod Impact Test
Measures a materials toughness
Test Specimen
Held Vertically
Vice
Pendulum
Start Position
of Pendulum
Scale to read energy
absorbed in breaking
the specimen

7. Overview – Testing Materials`
Izod Impact Test
Measures a materials toughness
•The Specimen is held
vertically in a vice
•The notch on the
specimen faces the
pendulum
•The striking energy of
the pendulum is 167
Joules
Pendulum
Vice
Specimen

8. Overview – Testing Materials`
Charpy Impact Test
Measures a materials toughness
•The Specimen is held
horizontally – between
two supports
•The notch on the
specimen faces away
from the pendulum
•The striking energy of
the pendulum is 300
Joules
Pendulum
Support
Specimen

9. Overview – Testing Materials`
Simple Workshop Test (Toughness)
This is another
comparative test.
The specimen pieces
are held vertically in a
vice and hit with a
hammer
It is important to wear a
face shield or goggles
and for spectators to
stand well back.
Brittle materials will
fracture and possibly
splinter.
Specimen
Vice
Hammer
Ductile Material

10. `
Overview – Testing Materials`
Simple Workshop Test (Deflection)
This is another
comparative test
The specimen is placed on
the supports
Weights are placed on the
platform, pushing the
plunger down causing the
specimen to deflect
Specimens can be tested
to destruction or their
deflection is measured
when the same weight is
applied to each in turn
Specimen
Supports
Plunger
Weights
Platform

11. Overview – Testing Materials`
Tensile Testing
Measures a materials tensile strength
Simple Tensile Testing Machine
Clamps for Holding
Specimen
Dial Gauge to Measure
Extension of Specimen

12. Overview – Testing Materials`
Simple Workshop Test (Stiffness)
This is a comparative
test. The material to be
tested is clamped to a
bench.
Weights are applied to
the free end.
The amount of
deflection of each
material is measured
and compared with
each other
Deflection
Applied Weights
Clamped
Specimen