New ASTM E1444 2011 Edition on Standard Practice for Magnetic Particle Testing

ASTM E1444, “Standard Practice for Magnetic Particle Testing,” has been issued as a new 2011 Edition with a redesignation to ASTM E1444/E1444M-11.  This new document number shows that the document has been revamped to include both feet and inches and metric measurements.  It replaces MIL-STD-1949, as well as the previous ASTM E1444-05 Edition from 2005.

This practice establishes minimum requirements for magnetic particle testing used for the detection of surface or slightly subsurface discontinuities in ferromagnetic material. Guide ASTM E709 can be used in conjunction with this practice as a tutorial.

Magnetic particle testing consists of magnetizing the area to be examined, applying suitably prepared magnetic particles while the area is magnetized, and subsequently interpreting and evaluating any resulting particle accumulations. Maximum detectability occurs when the discontinuity is positioned on the surface and perpendicular to the magnetic flux.

The magnetic particle testing method is used to detect cracks, laps, seams, inclusions, and other discontinuities on or near the surface of ferromagnetic materials. Magnetic particle testing may be applied to raw material, billets, finished and semi-finished materials, welds, and in-service parts. Magnetic particle testing is not applicable to non-ferromagnetic metals and alloys such as austenitic stainless steels.

ASTM E1444/E1444M establishes the basic parameters for controlling the application of the magnetic particle testing method. This practice is written so that it can be specified on the engineering drawing, specification, or contract. It is not a detailed how-to procedure to be used by the examination personnel and, therefore, must be supplemented by a detailed written procedure that conforms to the requirements of this practice.

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ASTM A370, Standard Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing of Steel Products – New 2011 Edition available

ASTM-A370 2011 Edition titled “Standard Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing of Steel Products” has just been released.  These test methods cover procedures and definitions for the mechanical testing of steels, stainless steels, and related alloys.  The new 2011 edition replaces the previous 2010 issue.

ASTM-A370 test methods center on Ductile vs. Brittle Behavior.  Body-centered-cubic or ferritic alloys exhibit a significant transition in behavior when impact tested over a range of temperatures. At temperatures above transition, impact specimens fracture by a ductile (usually microvoid coalescence) mechanism, absorbing relatively large amounts of energy. At lower temperatures, they fracture in a brittle (usually cleavage) manner absorbing appreciably less energy. Within the transition range, the fracture will generally be a mixture of areas of ductile fracture and brittle fracture.

The temperature range of the transition from one type of behavior to the other varies according to the material being tested. This transition behavior may be defined in various ways for specification purposes.

The specification may require a minimum test result for absorbed energy, fracture appearance, lateral expansion, or a combination thereof, at a specified test temperature.

The specification may require the determination of the transition temperature at which either the absorbed energy or fracture appearance attains a specified level when testing is performed over a range of temperatures. Alternatively the specification may require the determination of the fracture appearance transition temperature (FATTn) as the temperature at which the required minimum percentage of shear fracture (n) is obtained.

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