Sampling Guide – Materials
How to Submit a Sample
To request a quote or chain of custody, please contact us at testing@rtilab.com.
Samples can be shipped to:
RTI Laboratories, Inc.
33080 Industrial Road, Livonia MI 48150
Attention Sample Receiving
Sample Guide Materials Testing
All samples are prepared according to the applicable standards and specifications. RTI has a fully functional machine shop to prepare your samples for analysis. Our capabilities range from standard flat tensile milling to complex casting sample extraction and turning.
Sample size is unique to materials and requested analysis, but this guide can be used to assist in determining the size of sample to submit. All sizes listed below are our recommendations, however we can often work with smaller or larger samples if required.
Metallurgical
| Metallurgical | Notes |
| Microstructure | Any size |
| Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) | Any size |
Mechanical Properties
| Tensile: | Sample Size | Notes |
| Flat Stock | 11” x 11”x thickness | Mark rolling direction |
| Bar Stock | 6” x 1” x thickness | Mark rolling direction |
| Bar Round Standard | 4” length x 1” diameter | |
| Bar Round Subsize | 2.5” length x1/2” diameter | |
| Full Tube Standard | 16” length x1” diameter | Pulled as received |
| Wire | 18” length |
Charpy v-notched and un-notched: set of 3 Flats, bars, tubes and formed parts
| Charpy v-notched and un-notched: set of 3 Flats, bars, tubes and formed parts | ||
| Charpy | Sample size | Notes |
| Standard | 3” x 1” x 1” | State temperature condition |
| Subsize | 3’ x ¼” x ¼” | State temperature condition |
| Hardness | Sample Size |
| Microhardness Vickers & Knopp | Minimum 1/2” x 1/2” x thickness |
| Rockwell Hardness | Minimum 1” x 1/2” x thickness |
| Brinell Hardness | Minimum 1” x 1” x thickness |
| Hydrogen Embrittlement | Per customer requirements |
| Macrohardness | Minimum 1” x 1” x thickness |
| Hardness | Sample Size |
| Microhardness Vickers & Knopp | Minimum 1/2” x 1/2” x thickness |
| Rockwell Hardness | Minimum 1” x 1/2” x thickness |
| Brinell Hardness | Minimum 1” x 1” x thickness |
| Hydrogen Embrittlement | Per customer requirements |
| Macrohardness | Minimum 1” x 1” x thickness |
| Additional Parameters | Sample Size |
| Jominy Minimum size | 5-1/2 long x 1-3/8 diameter |
| Plating Thickness | Minimum 1” x 1” x thickness |
Alloy Chemistry
| Alloy Chemistry | Sample Size |
| ICP | 2 gram |
| OES | 3” x 1-1/2” x .030” |
| LECO Carbon/Sulfur | 3 grams |
| LECO Oxygen/Nitrogen 3 grams | 3 grams |
Paints Coatings & Polymers
Contact us at testing@rtilab.com for directions
Corrosion Evaluations
Contact us at testing@rtilab.com for directions
Environmental Exposure Lab
| Salt Spray | Sample Size |
| Finished part(s) | Parts as received. Cabinet limited to 20 cubic feet |
| Test Panels | Coupons |
Failure & Surface Analysis
Submit actual part(s) and where applicable the entire assembly for analysis. RTI can receive samples on a pallet. Take care to ensure that the broken fracture pieces don’t make contact during shipping, cover failed areas in plastic/zip lock, don’t mate broken surface areas, and don’t clean part before shipping.
Brake Friction Materials
| Brake Material | Parts as received |
Industrial Chemistry
Contact us at testing@rtilab.com for directions
Please contact our customer support for any questions regarding sample submissions or sample sizes at testing@rtilab.com or 734-422-8000 x 102.