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Metallurgy is a specialized field where many types of alloys are made using ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Sometimes precious metals like gold and silver are used to make specialized alloys for electronics applications. Often metal hardness testing is used to determine the properties of these combinations of metallic substances. Testing is an ongoing process to assure uniformity in the products created by the manufacturers of alloys and pure metal items supplied to other industries for use in larger more complex item.

When using metal hardness testing in the process of alloy production, it is only one-step in each part of each process as a pure metal or alloy is produced. This allows the producer to develop a recipe to create the exact formulation to make a uniform product that is consistent every time. Once the metal hardness testing specification is determined, the statistics are recorded. This is then added to a list known as a formulary. From these tests and others, the characteristics can be determined to decide if any changes need to be made. Metal hardness testing helps with this.

Ferrous metals are made from iron ore. These metals have the ability to be hardened into steel and mixed with other metals to make stainless steel, which resists corrosion. The metal hardness testing assists in this process to determine things such as tensile strength and hardness of the steel alloy. Ferrous metals also can be simply melted without hardening to make cast iron. Cast iron is used to make odd shaped parts and friction components because of its superior ability to be molded and its softness lend itself for brake parts.

Non-ferrous metal alloys and pure metals include copper, zinc, aluminum and many others. Metal hardness testing is also used to help figure out the properties of each individual metal as well as the combined alloys of each. Things such as conductivity and malleability are determined, tested and applied for use in components ranging from industrial to electronics. Therefore, you see metal hardness testing is useful in all areas of metallurgy,