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Izod/Charpy Impact Tester: Diagram, Working Principle, & Benefits

Izod/Charpy Impact Tester: Diagram, Working Principle, & Benefits

08-Jul-2025

Presto Instruments

The Izod and Charpy Impact testers are instrumental in assessing the toughness and resilience of materials subjected to sudden loading. Materials in the automotive, construction, and manufacturing industries frequently undergo unexpected impacts that can cause failures.

Without proper testing, product safety and performance are compromised. 

These testers provide a reliable solution by measuring a material’s resistance to impact. This helps engineers select the right material and improve design integrity for real-world applications. 

What is Izod and Impact Test? 

The Izod/Charpy Impact tests are standardized impact testing techniques for measuring a material’s toughness by evaluating its energy-absorbing capabilities under sudden impact. The test involves a pendulum hammer impacting a notched specimen, with the energy being recorded to assist in assessing material behavior under dynamic loading conditions. 

In the automotive industry, the Charpy impact test is often used to evaluate the toughness of metal alloys used in car frames or bumpers. For example, a steel sample is notched and cooled to sub-zero temperatures, and then struck by a pendulum hammer. The energy absorbed during fracture indicates how well the material can resist impact in cold conditions—vital for vehicle safety in winter climates.

Izod/Charpy Impact Tester Working Principle

Izode/Charpy impact testers work on the principle of energy absorption upon fracture. When the notched specimen is impacted with a pendulum hammer, the amount of energy required to fracture the specimen is determined.

Absorbed energy reflects the toughness of the material and resistance to shock load impacts. The method operates on the principle of conservation of energy. Here, the energy loss in the pendulum’s potential energy equals the energy that the specimen has absorbed during fracture.

Izod/Charpy Impact Test Diagram

The Izod/Charpy Impact Test Diagram consists of several components, such as the pendulum hammer, support frame base, specimen supports, energy indicator dial, pendulum release mechanism, and others.

1. Pendulum Hammer

  • The weighted arm oscillates from a fixed position to impact the specimen.
  • Delivers impact force suddenly to the specimen.

2. Support Frame Base 

  • Sturdy frame that supports all the testing apparatus. 
  • Offers a secure base and maintains accurate test orientation.

3. Specimen Supports 

  • Fixed supports on either side that support the specimen during testing 
  • Charpy Test: The Specimen rests horizontally across the two supports. 
  • Izod Test: The Specimen is supported vertically as a cantilever. 

4. Specimen (notched sample) 

  • Standard-sized notched bar (V or U-shaped) 
  • Concentrates stress to improve controlled fracture on impact. 

5. Notch Direction 

  • Charpy Test: Notch away from the hammer 
  • Izod Test: Notch towards the hammer 

6. Energy Indicator Dial 

  • A scale or digital display indicating the energy consumed in fracturing the specimen. 
  • Indicates the material’s toughness 

7. Pendulum Release Mechanism 

  • A trigger or lever to release the pendulum to a known height.
  • Preserves uniform energy input for every test.

Applications of Izod and Charpy Impact Tester

The Izod and Charpy impact testers have various applications across the automotive industry, aerospace sector, construction and civil engineering, plastics and polymer industries, and research and development, among others. 

Here is a detailed description of the applications: 

  • Aerospace Sector 

In the Aerospace sector, both tests are used to examine materials used in fuselages, wings, and turbine components, which may face extreme stresses and impact during flight or accidental events. Materials selection through impact testing helps prevent cracks and fractures, which could otherwise lead to severe consequences. 

  • Automotive Industry 

In the Automotive Industry, these tests are crucial for evaluating components like bumpers, dashboards, and body panels to ensure they can resist sudden collisions without catastrophic failures. Engineers use the data from impact tests to select materials that balance strength with flexibility, improving passenger security or safety. 

  • Construction & Civil Engineering 

In construction & civil engineering, impact testing plays a crucial role in evaluating the toughness of structural steels, pipelines, and reinforcement bars used in bridges and buildings. These materials must endure unpredictable forces like earthquakes or accidental impacts from machinery,  making impact resistance essential for structural integrity.

  • Plastics & Polymer Industry  

In the polymer and plastics manufacturing industry, Izod and Charpy tests are applied by manufacturers to compare the impact resistance of various grades of plastic under similar conditions. The purpose is to ensure that the plastic parts utilized in consumer electronics, packaging, and industrial equipment retain performance in actual application stress.

  • Research & Development

In material development and research, these tests aid in the development of new materials and alloys by offering essential information regarding fracture resistance. This assists researchers in creating materials with better performance characteristics aimed at meeting particular industrial requirements. The Izod/Charpy impact testers are therefore essential equipment for use both in material development and quality control.

Typical Specifications of Izod/Charpy Tester

Below are the typical specifications found in standard industrial models for the Izod/Charpy Tester:

  • Display LED Digital 
  • Pendulum release mechanism 
  • Release Angle of Pendulum 
  • Electrical requirement: Single phase 220 V 50 Hz
  • Paint: powder-coated 
  • Motorized notch clutter: Optional accessory 
  • Dimensions: 855*521*753 mm
  • Minimum scale resolution: 0.02 Joule, 0.05 Joule, 0.1 Joule, and 0.2 Joule, respectively.
  • Capacity up to 21.68 Joules
  • Range of four scales: 0-2.71 Joules; 0-5.42 Joules; 0-10.84 Joules, and 0-21.68 Joules.

Benefits of Izod/Charpy Impact Tester

Izode/Charpy Impact Tester offers several benefits such as quality control, product development, precision & repeatability, compliance with standards, versatility, and user-friendly operations etc. 

1. Quality Control 

These testers, through the testing of materials and products at various stages of production, ensure they achieve set standards of impact resistance. This allows for sustained quality and avoids the use of materials that are too fragile or at risk of failing under impact.

2. Product Development 

Impact testing with Izod and Charpy testers helps in the making of new materials and products with enhanced impact resistance. By understanding how materials behave under impact, researchers can design and engineer products that are more durable and less prone to catastrophic failure.

3. Precision & Repeatability 

Contemporary Izod and Charpy testers tend to come with sophisticated calibration systems and computerized control, thus providing dependable, repeatable results under stressful conditions. Such precision is needed to ensure material characterization can be trusted.

4. Compliance with Standards 

Most Izod/Charpy testers are made to be capable of achieving or surpassing international standards, including ASTM E23, so the test results are valid and consistent within various laboratories and industries. Standardization is very important to ensure the safety and reliability of products.

5. Versatility

The capacity to conduct both Izod/Charpy testing with a single machine is an asset to material testing due to its versatility. It opens up a detailed evaluation of impact strength with various testing approaches and a wider variety of material types and uses.

6. User-friendly operations 

Today's impact testers usually feature easy-to-use components like graphical reporting and motorized notch cutters so that the test becomes easier and more user-friendly, even for those with limited technical knowledge.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Izod and Charpy impact testers stand as crucial instruments in evaluating the resilience of materials when confronted with abrupt forces. These sophisticated testing methods follow standardized protocols that not only guarantee the dependability of materials but also uphold safety across various industries.

The role of Izod/Charpy impact tester is indispensable in quality control, propelling product development, and advancing material research, making them truly invaluable assets for ensuring the highest standards of reliability and performance. For those seeking trustworthy equipment, Presto Instrument offers reliable Izod and Charpy impact testers that you can purchase..

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