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

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Corrosion Evaluations

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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.