ABSTRACT
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Various testing methods may be selected to verify the quality of heat-treated parts or
specimens. Hardness testing is perhaps the most commonly used testing method for heat-
treated parts; however, additional tests (such as impact and tensile tests) are required for some
critical parts. In some cases, the microstructure of heat-treated parts should be examined
under a metallurgical microscope because any property change during heat treatment is
closely related to the microstructural change. Sometimes microstructural measurements are
needed in order to obtain a more informative and quantitative result. These can be done
manually, however, people often rely on an image analyzer to accomplish the quantitative
analysis of microstructures during the last three decades. This chapter provides an overview
of the various metallurgical testing methods, how they are carried out, and the physical
principles involved in testing. Helpful testing strategies are also provided.
