Product functionaltity

The elasticity of material indicates how easily its length can change when a force is applied. A material is elastic if it deforms when a force is applied to it. This deformation is a non-permanent deformation. This means that the material returns to its old shape when the force field is removed*. The elasticity of a material is expressed in the elastic modulus (E). This is also called Young’s modulus. The unit of a modulus of elasticity is a force on a surface or N/m2

It is important to know how much pulling force you can place on a product made of a given material before it breaks. The material deforms elastically up to the point of its elastic limit (Re). After that, the material deforms permanently. This is sometimes called plastic deformation. Tensile strengthv is the maximum mechanical tension that occurs in the material if it breaks after its plastic deformation and expressed in MPa.

In practical terms, the elastic limit (0.2%) is more important. Beyond the elastic limit (Re), the material will deform in a plastic fashion. Such a deformation of the material is undesirable because the product’s functionality, power and safety cannot be guaranteed then. The maximum elastic limit is indicated in N/mm².

The hardness of the material is the resistance that the material exhibits against permanent mechanical deformation. It therefore determines the extent to which a material can withstand wear. There are various methods for determining hardness. The most customary measurement methods are:

• Brinell (unit: HB)
• Vickers (unit: HV)
• Rockwell (unit: HRB or HRC)

Hardness is measured by pressing a hard point or a ball with standard measurements against a material. A measurement is then made of how large the dent formed in the tested material is. As the measuring point is pressed into the material, the contact surface gradually increases. This causes the pressure to decrease at the point of the material. This continues up to the moment that the point no longer presses into the material. The degree of indentation indicates the value of hardness.

Abrasion-resistant steel is a type of steel with a high resistance to wear. A product’s resistance to wear from friction or impact is obtained by hardening the material. A material with high hardness will cause a material with lower hardness to wear.

The brittleness of a material is the property of breaking without much stretching. A brittle break is when little energy is needed to cause a material to break. The toughness of a given material says something about how it breaks under mechanical loads. Under conditions of increased mechanical tension, tough material will ultimately deform in a plastic way, after which the load can still increase without breakage occurring immediately. A material is tough if it deforms considerably before it breaks. Toughness also indicates the resistance to the propagation of cuts and tears.

In practice, a material’s desired toughness against fractures is indicated by its impact strength. This impact strength value is, in fact, the energy needed to break a bar. So tough materials have a higher impact value than brittle materials. If requirements are placed on the material’s properties, an impact strength value at a given temperature is often requested in addition to the strength requirements. the impact strength is indicated in Joule (J).

Corrosion, better known as “rust”, is the degradation of metals due to environmental influences. As soon as metals are exposed to air, they will compound chemically with the oxygen in the air. This process is called oxidation. Rust is the red-brown material that is formed when iron reacts with oxygen in the presence of water. Rusting is the commonly used term for a form of corrosion of iron-containing materials, such as steel. Corrosion results in the loss of strength because the products of corrosion (oxides and salts) are much weaker than the metal. The corrosion products crumble away and the metallic parts become thinner. Holes may even occur in products with rust.

Stainless steel, also called RVS or SS, is a steel alloy that is resistant to corrosion. Stainless steel alloys are comprised of nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr), among other things. By adding chromium to a steel alloy, a chromium oxide layer is built up on the surface. This makes the surface more resistant to corrosion.

The acid resistance of a material is the maximum acid concentration that a material can absorb without wearing over time. It is the degree to which a material can withstand acidic fluids. Consider, for example, resistance to fluids like hydrochloric acid. CIREX can advise you as to which materials are suitable for use in an acidic environment. We can also make recommendations about supplemental surface treatments that may also be required.

Just like most other materials, steel expands when it warms up and contracts when it cools off. The degree to which a material contracts or expands is indicated by the thermal coefficient of expansion. The thermal coefficient of expansion is expressed per ˚C.

Most materials will expand when warmed up, which is also called a positive coefficient of expansion. At higher temperatures, molecules vibrate more strongly, causing them to take up more space (the volume becomes greater). The stronger the atoms are bonded to each other, the lower the coefficient of expansion. In general, steel types have a high coefficient of expansion.

We consider heat-resistant material to be the following: the steel alloy retains its mechanical properties under the influence of extremely high temperatures. Heat-resistant types of steel can withstand oxidation as well as the influence of hot gases and combustion products at temperatures above 600°C. These metals retain their form, functionality and dimensions after having come into contact with these extremely high temperatures. Alloying elements that boost heat resistance include nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr).