Unknown Materials
Unknown Materials
(OP)
O.K. Here's the million dollar question. I've got a bin in the shop that's full of small pieces of unlabeled metal stock. It's easy to separate the aluminum from the titanium, but how do I differentiate between inconel and stainless? Is there a test other than density and elemental analysis that will tell me what the heck I'm holding? How can I tell 304 from 316? I'm looking for simple tests here, because, if I was really serious, I'd just buy new material. Any ideas would be appreciated.





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(I seem to remember that Walker & System Scientific offer alloy sort test kits)
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The is a flow chart in ASM Stainless Steel Specialty Handbook. Look in the chaper on Recycling Tchnology.
The first chart has you use color/magnetism/density/spark test to sort. This covers ALL metals.
Then there is one that has you use four different acids and the sorting is based on the spot colors. This one covers corrosion resistant alloys, SS and Ni alloys.
The third one uses thermoelectric to sort corrosion resistant alloys into basic groups. Most of the SS grades can be identified this way. You can further sort by analyzing for just one of two elements.
Your best bet is to clean everything up and get it organized. Do a rough sort based on magnetism, density and spark colors. The hire a lab to come in with a portable XRF unit and finalize it all for you.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Corrosion, every where, all the time.
Manage it or it will manage you.
http://www.trent-tube.com/contact/Tech_Assist.cfm
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Just my jaded two cents...
Lee
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Yep. can't argue with that.
I'm guessing that maybe by sorting what from which, your aim is to enhance the overall scrap metal value. No harm in that.
The temptation, once the material is identified, is to go ahead and use it. Even if the analysis is beyond doubt, traceability of the manufacturer/batch certainly would be. Thus, the ultimate responsibility of the material becomes yours to bear.
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the different is the color after dwelling
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