Metal plate impact test service

Metal Plate Impact Testing Service – Accredited ISO/IEC 17025 Mechanical Performance Assessment for the Colombian Market

Metal plate impact testing is a critical mechanical evaluation method used to determine the toughness, ductility, and fracture resistance of metallic materials under sudden dynamic loading. This test is essential for assessing the ability of steel, aluminum, and alloy plates to withstand impact forces, shock loads, and rapid deformation events without fracturing or developing cracks. Impact testing is indispensable for quality control, material certification, and safety compliance in industries such as construction, automotive manufacturing, shipbuilding, oil and gas, mining equipment, and structural engineering. In the Colombian market, where the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), the Ministerio de Minas y Energía (MinMinas), the Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos (ANH), and the Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN) enforce stringent safety and quality standards for metallic materials, the accurate evaluation of metal plate impact resistance is essential for product certification, supplier qualification, quality control in manufacturing, and import-export processes. Our laboratory offers a comprehensive metal plate impact testing service, applying standardized methods such as Charpy V-notch, Izod, drop weight, and instrumented impact testing to measure impact energy, fracture appearance, ductile-to-brittle transition temperature, and fracture toughness. All tests are performed under our ISO/IEC 17025 (CNAS) accreditation, and the resulting reports are fully accepted by Colombian authorities, making them indispensable for regulatory compliance, material validation, and market access in Colombia.

Metal Plate Samples We Regularly Test

Our laboratory receives a wide variety of metal plates and metallic components for impact testing. Typical samples include:

• Carbon steel plates – structural steel plates used in bridges, buildings, pipelines, and pressure vessels.
• Stainless steel plates – austenitic, ferritic, and duplex grades for corrosive environments, food processing, and chemical plants.
• Aluminum and aluminum alloy plates – for aerospace, automotive, marine, and structural applications.
• Alloy steel plates – high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels, chromium-molybdenum steels, and quenched-and-tempered (QT) steels.
• Copper and copper alloy plates – for electrical, thermal, and corrosion-resistant applications.
• Nickel and titanium alloy plates – for high-temperature and highly corrosive environments.
• Armor and ballistic plates – for military and security applications.
• Prototype and new steel grades – submitted by manufacturers for impact property validation before series production.
• Plates extracted from field structures – for assessment of embrittlement, aging, or in-service degradation.

Charpy V-Notch Impact Testing – Standard Method for Evaluating Toughness

The Charpy V-notch impact test is the most widely used method for determining the impact resistance of metallic materials. It measures the energy absorbed by a standardized specimen when fractured by a swinging pendulum, providing a quantitative measure of the material's toughness and its susceptibility to brittle fracture. Our procedures follow international standards and the requirements of the Colombian structural and energy sectors.

• Charpy V-notch impact test (ASTM E23 / ISO 148-1 / NTC 3804) – a specimen measuring 10 mm × 10 mm × 55 mm is machined from the metal plate, with a V-notch of 2 mm depth and 0.25 mm radius milled at the center. The specimen is placed in the Charpy impact testing machine and struck by a pendulum of known mass (typically 300 J or 150 J) from a fixed height. The energy absorbed during fracture (in Joules) is recorded. We report the absorbed energy, the lateral expansion, and the percentage of shear fracture (ductile vs. brittle area) on the fracture surface. The test is performed at ambient temperature and, when required, at multiple temperatures to determine the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT).
• Charpy impact test at low temperatures (ASTM E23 – variant, NTC 3805) – the specimen is cooled to a specified temperature (e.g., -20 °C, -40 °C, -60 °C) in a temperature-controlled bath (alcohol or liquid nitrogen) and then transferred to the impact tester for immediate testing. We report the absorbed energy at each temperature and the temperature at which the energy drops below a specified level (e.g., 27 J).
• Charpy impact test at elevated temperatures (NTC 3806 – for materials used in hot service) – the specimen is heated to a specified temperature (e.g., 100 °C, 200 °C, 300 °C) in a temperature-controlled oven and then tested. We report the absorbed energy at elevated temperatures.
• Instrumented Charpy impact test (ASTM E2298 / NTC 3807 – force-displacement curve recording) – using an instrumented striker, we record the force-time curve during the impact, which allows us to separate the total impact energy into initiation energy and propagation energy. We report the initiation energy (J), the propagation energy (J), and the total energy (J), providing a more detailed characterization of fracture behavior.
• Charpy impact test on weldments (ASTM E23 – adapted, NTC 3808) – for welded plates, we extract specimens with the notch located in the weld metal, the fusion line, and the heat-affected zone (HAZ). We report the impact energy for each location, which is critical for assessing the quality of the welding procedure.
• Verification of Charpy test machine and calibration (ASTM E23 / NTC 3809 – indirect verification using reference specimens) – we regularly verify the impact tester using certified reference specimens of known impact energy to ensure the accuracy and repeatability of the measurements. We report the verification results.

Drop Weight Impact Testing – Evaluation of Fracture Toughness and Crack Arrest

Drop weight impact testing is used to determine the nil-ductility transition temperature (NDT) of ferritic steels and to evaluate the fracture toughness of thick plates, especially for pressure vessels and pipelines. This test simulates the conditions of sudden, high-energy impact and is crucial for safety-critical applications in the Colombian oil and gas sector.

• Drop weight test for nil-ductility transition temperature (ASTM E208 / NTC 3810) – a rectangular specimen (typically 25 mm × 50 mm × 100 mm) with a welded bead (or a machined notch) on the tension side is placed in a fixture. A weight (typically 200 kg) is dropped from a specified height onto the specimen, which is supported at its ends. The test is performed at various temperatures until a "break" (fracture) or a "no-break" (ductile deformation) is observed. The highest temperature at which a break occurs is the NDT temperature. We report the NDT temperature and the specimen condition at each temperature.
• Drop weight tear test (DWTT) – ASTM E436 / NTC 3811 – a larger specimen (typically 3″ × 12″ × thickness) with a pressed notch is tested in a drop weight machine. The test is performed at a specified temperature, and the fracture appearance is evaluated by measuring the percentage of shear area (ductile fracture) on the fracture surface. We report the percentage of shear area and the test temperature. DWTT is widely used for pipeline steels to determine the fracture propagation resistance.
• Instrumented drop weight test (NTC 3812 – for dynamic fracture toughness) – the drop weight impact is instrumented with a load cell to record the force-time curve. The dynamic fracture toughness (K_Id) is calculated from the maximum load and the specimen geometry. We report the dynamic fracture toughness (in MPa·√m) and the force-time curve.
• Drop weight test on welded plates (NTC 3813 – for evaluating weld metal toughness) – specimens are extracted from welded plates with the notch located in the weld or the HAZ. The drop weight test is performed to determine the NDT of the weld joint. We report the NDT temperature and the fracture appearance.
• Drop weight test at cryogenic temperatures (NTC 3814 – for low-temperature service) – the test is performed at temperatures as low as -196 °C using liquid nitrogen cooling, to simulate conditions for cryogenic applications (e.g., LNG storage and transport). We report the NDT at cryogenic temperatures.

Izod Impact Testing – Evaluating Toughness of Small and Thin Specimens

The Izod impact test is similar to the Charpy test but uses a different specimen orientation and clamping method. It is commonly used for metallic plates of limited thickness, for the evaluation of thin sections, and for materials that are difficult to machine into standard Charpy specimens. It is also widely used for comparative quality control.

• Izod impact test (ASTM E23 / NTC 3820 – for metals) – a specimen (typically 10 mm × 10 mm × 75 mm or 10 mm × 10 mm × 55 mm) with a V-notch is clamped vertically in the Izod testing machine, with the notch facing the striker. The pendulum strikes the specimen at a fixed distance above the notch, and the absorbed energy is recorded. We report the absorbed energy (in J) and the lateral expansion. The Izod test is often performed on specimens with different notch geometries and sizes, depending on the material and application.
• Izod impact test at low temperatures (NTC 3821 – for cold service evaluation) – similar to the Charpy low-temperature test, the specimen is cooled to a specified temperature (e.g., -40 °C) and tested immediately. We report the absorbed energy at low temperatures.
• Izod test on thin plates (NTC 3822 – for materials with thickness less than 10 mm) – for thin plates (e.g., ≤ 6 mm), we use sub-size specimens (e.g., 5 mm × 10 mm × 55 mm) to evaluate the impact toughness. We report the absorbed energy normalized to the full-size specimen.
• Izod test on surface-hardened and coated materials (NTC 3823 – for evaluating coating toughness) – for plates with surface treatments (nitriding, carburizing, hardfacing), the Izod test is used to evaluate the toughness of the surface layer. We report the absorbed energy and the fracture characteristics.
• Comparison of Izod and Charpy results (NTC 3824 – correlation between the two methods) – when both tests are performed, we provide a correlation of the impact energies and a comparison of the fracture behavior. We report the correlation coefficient and the observed differences.

Impact Testing at Different Temperatures – Determination of Ductile-to-Brittle Transition Temperature

The ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) is a critical parameter for materials used in cold environments or in applications where low temperatures may be encountered. Our multi-temperature impact testing provides a comprehensive characterization of the material's impact behavior across a wide temperature range, which is required by the ANH and the MinMinas for materials used in pipelines and pressure vessels.

• • Series of impact tests at multiple temperatures (ASTM E23 – transition curve, NTC 3830) – we perform Charpy (or Izod) impact tests at a series of temperatures (e.g., -60 °C, -40 °C, -20 °C, 0 °C, 20 °C, 40 °C, 60 °C) to construct the impact energy vs. temperature curve and the fracture appearance (shear area) vs. temperature curve. The transition temperature (DBTT) is defined as the temperature at which the absorbed energy is 27 J (or at which 50 % shear fracture is observed). We report the DBTT, the impact energy curve, and the fracture appearance curve.
  • Determination of DBTT using different criteria (NTC 3831 – 27 J, 50 % shear, or 0.9 mm lateral expansion) – we provide the DBTT based on the most appropriate criterion for the application (e.g., 27 J for structural steels, 50 % shear for pipeline steels). We report the DBTT according to each criterion.
  • Impact testing at low temperatures for pipeline and pressure vessel steels (NTC 3832 – per API 5L and ASME standards) – we test specimens at a specified low temperature (e.g., -40 °C for pipeline steels) and report the average impact energy, the minimum impact energy, and the percentage of shear area. We verify compliance with the applicable standard (e.g., API 5L, ASME B31.3). We report the pass/fail status for the specified temperature.
  • Statistical analysis of transition curve (NTC 3833 – fitting of hyperbolic tangent or logistic function) – we fit the experimental data to a sigmoidal function (e.g., hyperbolic tangent) and extract the transition temperature and the width of the transition region. We report the fitted parameters and the confidence intervals.
  • Effect of strain rate on transition temperature (NTC 3834 – dynamic vs. static fracture) – we compare the impact results with the results of static fracture toughness tests (K_IC, CTOD) to evaluate the strain rate effect on the transition temperature. We report the shift in the transition temperature due to impact loading.

Fracture Appearance and Lateral Expansion – Evaluating Ductility and Fracture Mode

In addition to the absorbed energy, the fracture appearance (percentage of ductile shear fracture) and the lateral expansion (increase in width at the fracture surface) are important indicators of the material's toughness and its resistance to brittle fracture. Our detailed fracture analysis provides a more complete picture of the impact behavior.

• Measurement of shear fracture percentage (ASTM E23 / NTC 3840 – visual estimation or image analysis) – after the Charpy test, the fracture surface is examined visually or using an image analysis system to determine the percentage of the surface that exhibits a fibrous (shear) appearance (ductile fracture) versus a crystalline (cleavage) appearance (brittle fracture). We report the percentage of shear fracture (%) at the test temperature.
• Measurement of lateral expansion (ASTM E23 / NTC 3841) – the increase in the width of the specimen at the fracture surface (measured at the center of the notch) is measured using a digital caliper. Lateral expansion is a measure of the plastic deformation that occurs before fracture. We report the lateral expansion (in mm).
• Fractographic analysis by SEM (ASTM E1508 / NTC 3842 – examination of fracture surface morphology) – for detailed failure analysis, we examine the fracture surface using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to identify the fracture mode (ductile dimple rupture, cleavage, intergranular fracture, or mixed mode). We report the SEM images and the fracture mode analysis.
• Measurement of fatigue pre-crack length (NTC 3843 – for fracture toughness specimens) – for fracture toughness testing (K_IC, CTOD), we measure the pre-crack length on the fracture surface and verify that it meets the requirements of the standard (e.g., 1.3 times the notch depth). We report the pre-crack length.
• Correlation of fracture appearance with impact energy (NTC 3844 – for quality control) – we plot the absorbed energy versus the shear fracture percentage to assess the consistency of the material's toughness. We report the correlation and any deviations.

Complementary Tests – Hardness, Tensile, and Microstructure for Impact Characterization

To provide a complete material characterization and to understand the factors affecting impact performance, we complement the impact tests with hardness, tensile, and microstructural analyses. These tests help identify the reasons for high or low impact toughness and are essential for quality control and failure analysis.

• Hardness testing (ASTM E18 / NTC 3850 – Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers) – we measure the hardness of the metal plate (HRC, HRB, HB, or HV) to correlate with impact toughness (generally, higher hardness is associated with lower toughness). We report the hardness values and the correlation with impact energy.
• Tensile testing (ASTM E8 / ISO 6892 / NTC 2150 – for yield and ultimate tensile strength) – we perform tensile tests on the plate material to determine the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation, which are correlated with impact toughness. We report the tensile properties.
• Microstructural examination (ASTM E3 / NTC 3851 – optical and SEM metallography) – we examine the grain size, phase distribution, inclusion content, and any microstructural defects that may affect impact toughness. We report the microstructural observations and their relation to impact properties.
• Grain size measurement (ASTM E112 / NTC 3852 – by comparison or planimetric method) – we measure the average grain size (ASTM grain size number) and correlate it with the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (finer grains generally improve toughness). We report the ASTM grain size number.
• Inclusion and cleanliness assessment (ASTM E45 / NTC 3853 – through metallographic examination) – we evaluate the level of non-metallic inclusions (sulfides, oxides, silicates) in the plate material, which can affect impact toughness. We report the inclusion rating (type and severity).

Test Report and Recognition in the Colombian Industrial and Construction Sector

All procedures described are within the scope of our ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, with impact testers calibrated periodically using certified reference specimens and traceability to international standards (NIST, PTB). Our test reports are issued in Spanish and include:

• Full identification of the metal plate (material, grade, thickness, heat treatment, manufacturer, lot number, and plate identification).
• Detailed description of the test methods applied (ASTM/ISO/NTC standards, specimen orientation, notch type, test temperature, and number of tests).
• Numerical results: absorbed energy (J), lateral expansion (mm), shear fracture percentage (%), DBTT (°C), NDT temperature (°C), dynamic fracture toughness (K_Id, MPa·√m), and hardness (HRC/HV).
• Graphical data: transition curves (energy vs. temperature, shear percentage vs. temperature), force-time curves, and load-displacement curves.
• Comparative tables against the values specified by the client or against the limits of the NTC 3804 (Charpy impact), NTC 3810 (Drop weight), NTC 3820 (Izod), and the requirements of the SIC, MinMinas, ANH, and DIAN for metal plates in construction, energy, and manufacturing.
• Photographs and fractographs (SEM) of the fracture surfaces, showing the ductile and brittle areas and the fracture modes.
• Recommendations for material selection, heat treatment optimization, and quality control to improve impact toughness.
• Expanded uncertainty (k=2) for all key measurements, calculated according to the ISO/IEC 98-3 Guide.

These reports are fully accepted by the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC) for product registration and quality certification, by the Ministerio de Minas y Energía (MinMinas) and the Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos (ANH) for the approval of metal plates used in the oil, gas, and mining sectors, and by the Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN) for tariff classification and quality verification in the import of steel and alloy plates. Additionally, we offer consulting services for the selection of steel grades with high impact toughness, the design of welding procedures to maintain toughness, and the implementation of quality control programs for impact performance, contributing to the safety, reliability, and durability of metal structures and equipment in the diverse and demanding Colombian market, from the high-altitude steel mills and industrial plants to the oil and gas pipelines and offshore platforms.