There are a number of reasons as to why you want a Charpy test conducted. Also referred to as the Charpy v-notch test, it is a standardized test that defines the high strain-rate. It will ensure you understand more about the amount of energy being absorbed by a material during a fracture.
Without having this test conducted, it could lead to a variety of problems. You want to try and avoid issues from the very beginning, which is why the test needs to be scheduled as soon as possible.
Avoid Big Problems
You need to be sure you are doing everything possible to avoid major problems. Metal could be used on ships, offshore rigs, skyscrapers, and industrial equipment. If you don’t know how ductile or brittle the metal is, it could easily snap without a moment’s notice.
What would happen if the metal breaks in half? You could be risking the welfare of your employees, a potential chemical spill, or all sorts of other problems. This is not only going to drive employee morale down, but it could end up costing you millions of dollars. If the press gets a hold of the news story, you could lose everything.
There have been plenty of problems in history that could have been avoided with a Charpy test, including the sinking of the Titanic.
Make Better Decisions
A lot of it comes down to making better decisions regarding the construction or fabrication of a project. You need to choose the right metal for the job. While you can read all about the features and characteristics of an alloy, you don’t truly know the brittle behavior until you put it through a Charpy test.
The sample metal is given a notch. It is then swung in a pendulum and knocked against an anvil on the other side of the notch. When this happens, it’s possible to record the amount of energy absorbed by the material. It’s also possible to look at whether the notch grew as a result of being hit.
This test can then be conducted over and over again in different temperatures. You can find out if it becomes more brittle in high or low heat situations. With this information, you can decide whether or not to use the alloy. You can also choose to limit where the metal is used based on what the Charpy tests revealed.
Scheduling the Test
When you’re ready for a Charpy test to be scheduled, you have to be realistic about what you want the test to reveal. You will know the absorbed energy. If you want to know the lateral expansion and crystallinity, be sure to let the third party know. Let them know the temperature range for exposure, too.
With the results of the test in hand, you can make better decisions about every project you get involved in.
