TABLE OF CONTENTS All manufacturers of plastic materials provide material specification sheets when so requested. Material analysis sheets likewise are supplied by metal providers, forges, and foundries when so requested. The material test report is generated by one of the various materials test laboratories nationwide, but it must be purchased by the company requesting the analysis. Owing to the rise in imported materials that may or may not meet the requirements of the SAE, ASTM, AISI, ASM, and ANSI standards, material confirmation by way of laboratory analysis is necessary in many instances. Materials that do not conform to the standards applicable for a given material, as specified on the engineering drawings, pose a serious safety problem for manufacturers of industrial and consumer products and their users. When in doubt about a material's performance, have the material analyzed at a testing laboratory. The material supplier is responsible for the specifications of the material that it sells. If you order a type 304L stainless steel per SAE or ASTM specifications, the material must conform to these specifications both chemically and mechanically.
