May 2010
Welcome to New Hampshire Materials Lab
 
Greetings!  

NHML is always trying to find ways to enhance our services and customer relations.
 
That was our hope when the lab aquired our new GDS (Glow Discharge Spectrometer). The next step is to convey the how important paperwork is for your testing. Many times a sample will sit idiol because no paperwork was included. As an added convenience for our customers, a link to our "Sample Request Form" has been included in this issue of the Nuts & Bolts.
 
A link to a brief survey has been included in this issue. This survey is designed to help us write more informative articles on the "hot topics of the day" and topics of interest.

What Is A Glow Discharge Spectrometer?       

Glow Discharge Machine
NHML GDS Machine
  

Glow Discharge Spectrometer (GDS) is state of the art technology used to measure elemental variations and depth profiling of ferrous and nonferrous materials such as Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Brass, Unalloyed Copper to name a few.

 

How is this done? The spectrometer in the GDS uniformly sputters a small amount of metal from the sample surface (typically 100-200 micrometers) and draws this material into an anode. Where a powerful electric field excites the atoms and they emit light at characteristic wavelengths. The emitted light passes through a grating. The light is than dispersed and directed to a bank of photomultiplier tubes in the back of the instrument where the light is quantified.

 

The advantages of the GDS verses other types of analyses are minimal sample preparation, separation of sampling sputtering from excitation resulting in freedom from metallurgical history, quick matrix changes, overall improved precision.

 

For a to be analyzed this instrument, it must have a SMOOTH, FLAT surface at least one-half inch across.  The GDS can be appropriate for essentially non-destructive testing of fabricated parts.

 

NHML currently has the following methods and standards available for the GDS:  

Carbon & *Alloy Steels                      

Cast Iron

Tool Steel

Stainless Steel

Cast Aluminum

Unalloyed Copper

*Titanium Alloys

Aluminum

*Nickel Alloys

Brass

Telurium/Berrylium Copper

 

*National Institute of Standards and Technology traceable check standards, or secondary standards where NIST standards are not available, are used for calibration and drift correction for each alloy method

Paperwork..Paperwork..And More Paperwork 

In today's world, we are inundated with e-mails, text messages, deadlines, paperwork. It's sometimes hard to remember what is next on our to do list. So, what happens when a sample arrives at NHML without paperwork. Delays as we try to figure out the contact, type of testing, etc that is specifically needed for the sample. Without the correct documentation, the sample can not go forward into the lab.  
 
In order for NHML to enhance our services, we strongly encourage everyone to include paperwork with their samples. 
Paperwork should always include:

Company Name

Contact Name 
E-mail address (reports are e-mailed to our customer)

Contact number including extension #

Brief description of testing needs

Amount quoted if one has been received

Deadline if one is required

Purchase order # if required, or credit card info (please check with your purchasing dept beforehand)  
 

For your convenience, NHML has a sample submission form that can either be e-mailed in to us or printed to be shipped with sample. A link to the form has been provided:

 

http://www.nhml.com/nhml_sample_request.cfm

What Is A Lüder Band?
 

According to Wikipedia, a Lüder band is a localized band of plastic deformation that can occur on some materials before fracture. These bands can arise from residual stresses due to welding.Lüder bands often are a result of strain aging by discontinuous yielding and can be commercially important for producing wrinkled lined finishes. It happens on low carbon steels and some Al-Mg Alloys.

 
Click here  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCder_band to read more about Lüder band.
 
 Issue: 4
In This Issue
Glow Discharge Machine
Importance of Paperwork
What's Happening At NHML
Join Our Mailing List 

NHML Staff Bio 

Tim Kenney
President/Owner 
Tim Kenney President & Owner of NHML

NHML and Tim go way back to his college days at UNH. The original founder and owner of NHML, Fred Hochgraf was Tim's professor. Tim has been a fixture here at the lab from almost day one. When Fred decided he no longer wanted to be involved in the day to day grind, who else was better fit to take over the reins of NHML but Tim. In 2008, Tim took over full ownership of NHML. It is Tim's mission for NHML to continue as "Your Problem Solving Partner".
 
To find out more about Tim visit his profile on LinkedIn.
 
View my profile on LinkedIn
What's Happening At NHML

What do pellets made of Polyamide (a type of polymer commonly used in textiles, automotives, carpet, and sportswear due to their extremely high durability) and UV stabilizer have in common with a polymer used to manufacture a vacuum molded case and cover, and the UV resistance of this polymer? Nothing other than NHML helped both clients find the answer their questions. Intrigued to find out more? Click on the link to read the case histories....
 

Your Help Is Needed

Have you ever wondered why an article on Hydrogen Embrittlement or  High Cycle Fatigue was written for our Nuts & Bolts? These were problems being seen by us and our customers.
 
A link is provided below to a survey created to find out what types of problems or information; you would like highlighted in an issue of the Nuts & Bolts. Please consider taking a brief moment to complete this survey (all information is confidential).
 
New Hampshire Materials Lab
www.nhml.com
· lab@nhml.com
Tel: 800-334-5432 or 603-692-4110 · Fax: 603-692-4008