Measuring

• Measuring and recording the length and diameter of the specimen.

Lubrication bags

• For Rastegaev-specimen: Filling entirely the lubrication bags with lubricant.

Info Depending on the testing temperature different lubrications with different viscosities can be used.

Spot-welding

• Spot-welding a S-type thermocouple to a central position on the specimen surface.

Info The distance between the spot-welded wires should be as close as possible without contacting each other.

Mounting the specimen

• Move the stamps out of the coil.
• Insert the distance holder.
• Apply a Molybdenum disc on both sides of the specimen.
• Mount the specimen in the centering piece and move it carefully in the center of the coil.
• Fix the right stamp with screws.
• Close the vacuum chamber and start the vacuum pump.

Software preparation

• Start defining the experiment parameters by clicking on the record button.
• Load the Time-temperature-deformation program by clicking on the temperature scale.
• Define the different segments (final temperature, time).
• Define the different isothermal holding times, heating and cooling rates.
• For deformation: Chose the deformation type (true strain of 0.8; strain rate of 0.1 s-1)
• Save the temperature profile.
• Enter the recorded values for length and diameter.

The test

• Stop the vacuum pump if the pressure in the chamber is below 5*10-4 bar.
• Start the experiment on the computer terminal.
• Observe the curve.
• After cooling down the program stops. Dismount the specimen.
• Export the recorded force and displacement of the stamps for the determination of flow curves.

Info A flow curve can also immediately be calculated on the computer.