Understanding The Metal Working and Idendification Process

03/01/2020 Understanding the Metal Working and Idendification Process
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Understanding the Metal

Working and Idendification
Process
Manufacturing Technology / By Karann / Mechanical Engineering
Since metals can be classified into many different grades of material under
each individual metallic groups, identifying them with names may not be
feasible; therefore they are marked with specific indications to which each
of them may comply. Generally these markings are done through metal
dies, but for metals which are intolerable to die stamping and prone to
getting damaged, methods like stenciling or enamel printing is considered
safer.
https://www.brighthubengineering.com/manufacturing-technology/119081-identifying-metals-from-assigned-codes-and-marking/ 1/9
Standard color code: Sometimes marking through printing methods
becomes difficult to implement, so another auxiliary method called

standard code method is employed for making the identifications more
prominent. The metals are appropriately identified and marked using

colors as per their specifications, given in A.P.1086 and A.P.1464B.
The color markings are done in the form of bands over the corners of the
metal sheets and at the ends of tubes or rods. If it becomes necessary to

cut and use the sheet or the rod in pieces or sections, it must be done such
that the marked colored portion remains unaffected and safe for future
reference.
However if due to unavoidable reasons the marked identification data is

not available over an unknown metal, its type and material can be
recognized through practical working and identification process.
Let’s discuss some of the practical identification procedures for different

metals with the following point-wise analysis (bear in mind that the
procedures are not highly reliable and should not be preferred for critical
applications):
Identifying Ferrous Metals Practically
Grey Cast Iron:
Shows no ringing effect when dropped over an anvil
Chips break off when subjected to bending.

Can be easily filed when hot but may involve dirty carbon deposits.
Shows no apparent change when dropped in water in red hot

condition.
A cracked or fractured section may show uniformly sized dark grey

colored crystals.
Grinding over a grinding wheel produces weak, non crackling

sparks.
Wrought Iron:
Rings at a lower pitch when hit against an anvil.

Bending forces it to chip easily.
Can be filed easily due to softness.

Shows no apparent change when dropped in water in red hot
condition.
Cracked part appears too coarse and fibrous.
Bright yellow sparks are generated while grinding.
Low Carbon or Mild Steel:
Rings better than the above two cases when struck over an anvil.
Chips easily bend, the chips bend without integrating.
Soft and therefore can be easily filed.

Again no visible change when suddenly cooled from an initial red
hot state.
Cracked section shows crystals, bright silver in appearance.
Grinding generates bright yellow sparks with bursts.
High Carbon Steel
Dropping over an anvil produces high pitched ring.

Comparatively harder to chip than mild steel.
Filing may get tough for these metals.
Quenching in water may render it a harder property, impossible to

file.
Cracked portion shows fine pale grey crystal.

Bright crackling flames are produced when ground.
Tungsten Steel:
Anvil knock generates very high pitched ring.

Chipping is not possible.
Filing is impossible.
Quenching produces effect as in the above case.
Dusty silky grey blue crystals appear when cracked.

Grinding generates red, non crackling sparks that may stick and
follow the grinding wheel rotations.
Identifying Non Ferrous Metals Practically
Aluminum: Appears tin white in color externally, has soft, bendable, non-
magnetic physical characteristics. Treating with caustic soda turns it matt
white.
Alclad: Though a bit similar to aluminum externally, has springy tendencies

and offers considerable resistance to bending. When dipped in caustic
soda, turns dusty white in color with black edges.
Duralumin: Has similar physical properties as Alclad but turns black in the
influence of caustic soda solution.
Magnesium Alloys: Just like aluminum its tin white externally, super light
in weight, non-magnetic and shows little resistance when filed. The filed
chips are ignitable in the flame. When brought in physical contact with
copper sulphate solution, effervescence is developed which makes the
affected areas black in color.
Solder: Shiny, tin-white in appearance, very heavy but soft physically, is

non-magnetic and has a low melting point (that’s why becomes suitable
for soldering, where it’s easily melted at temperatures created by low
power soldering irons). The presence of lead produces black marks when
the metal is scratched over a white paper. When bent, produces crackling
sound indicating the involvement of a high percentage of tin in it.
Copper: Brownish red in color, it shows high malleability and ductility,

easily bendable to any extents without breaking. Cleaned surface shows
great compatibility to solder metal and both bond together easily.
Reference:
Heat Treating – Theforgeworks.com
Metal Working Handbook – Principles and Procedures – Scribd.com/doc/
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03/01/2020 Understanding the Metal Working and Idendification Process

Bright Hub Engineering

Understanding the Metal

getting damaged, methods like stenciling or enamel printing is considered

Standard color code: Sometimes marking through printing methods

becomes difficult to implement, so another auxiliary method called

prominent. The metals are appropriately identified and marked using

metal sheets and at the ends of tubes or rods. If it becomes necessary to

However if due to unavoidable reasons the marked identification data is

recognized through practical working and identification process.

Let’s discuss some of the practical identification procedures for different

Identifying Ferrous Metals Practically

Grey Cast Iron:

Shows no ringing effect when dropped over an anvil

Chips break off when subjected to bending.

Shows no apparent change when dropped in water in red hot

A cracked or fractured section may show uniformly sized dark grey

Grinding over a grinding wheel produces weak, non crackling

Rings at a lower pitch when hit against an anvil.

Can be filed easily due to softness.

Bright yellow sparks are generated while grinding.

Low Carbon or Mild Steel:

Soft and therefore can be easily filed.

Grinding generates bright yellow sparks with bursts.

High Carbon Steel

Dropping over an anvil produces high pitched ring.

Quenching in water may render it a harder property, impossible to

Cracked portion shows fine pale grey crystal.

Anvil knock generates very high pitched ring.

Dusty silky grey blue crystals appear when cracked.

Identifying Non Ferrous Metals Practically

Alclad: Though a bit similar to aluminum externally, has springy tendencies

influence of caustic soda solution.

Solder: Shiny, tin-white in appearance, very heavy but soft physically, is

Copper: Brownish red in color, it shows high malleability and ductility,

Heat Treating – Theforgeworks.com

Metal Working Handbook – Principles and Procedures – Scribd.com/doc/

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