Materials selection for parts or components usually occurs under two conditions. The first is when a new part or component is designed while the second is when an existing part or component needs to be upgraded. Upgrading may be needed due to a variety of reasons. If the part or component is relatively new, upgrading may beneeded if part life is marginal or inadequate. Or, a competitor’s newly improved part is performing better and sales of your part are droping. Or operating conditions may be changed and your part is no longer performing acceptably. Of course, it is possible that parts have failed and the failure study recommends upgrading the material being used, perhaps also with other suggestions regarding the design and manufacturing process.
The articles and presentations that can be down-loaded from this web site are based upon work done by GFV while employed at Bethlehem Steel (1967-1983), Carpenter Technology (1983-1996), Buehler Ltd. (1996-2009) and Struers (2009-Present) and from the authors consulting work for companies such as, Latrobe Steel, Scot Forge, etc., and from his litigation work. GFV's bylined articles appearing in various issues of the ASM Handbook series have been listed here courtesy of ASM International, Materials Park, Ohio.