About us
Our R&D centre is called ACM: ABS Centre Métallurgique. It is located in Metz, France, at the heart of the European steel industry.
The team is made up of international professionals who study materials, their transformation and propose new steel production models. The ACM team is in constant contact with the ABS quality team, providing specific support to customers such as characterization, digital simulation, metallurgical expertise, process assistance or larger research projects.
The goal of ACM is to meet the customer’s every need thanks to the collaboration between the research centre and the end customer.
Our services
Standardized or customized tests
ACM offers a wide range of standardized or customer-tailored tests.
Prove certificate*:
Tensile testing
◆ Tensile tests at room temperature according to standard NF EN ISO 6892-1 and ASTM E8/E8M (French standard, European standard of the International Organization for Standardization) – properties measured: ReH, ReL, Rp, Rm (upper and lower yield strengths, proof strength, plastic extension and tensile strength), A%, Z%.
◆ Tensile tests at temperatures higher than room temperature according to standard NF EN ISO 6892-2 (Methods A and B) – Properties measured: ReH, ReL, Rp, Rm, A%, Z%.
Notched bar impact testing
◆ Notched bar impact tests at temperatures of -80 ° C and + 80 ° C according to standards NF EN ISO 148-1 and ASTM E23 – properties measured: KU, KV8 (J).
Hardness testing
◆ Brinell hardness tests HBW 2.5/187.5 and HBW 5/750 according to standard NF EN ISO 6506-1.
◆ Vickers hardness tests HV50, HV 10, HV 30, HV 1 and HV 0.5 according to standard NF EN ISO 6507-1.
◆ Rockwell hardness tests according to standard NF EN ISO 6508-1.
Chemical analyses
◆ Chemical analysis of unalloyed, low-alloyed and high-alloyed steels by optical emission spectroscopy according to our internal method – determination of content of: C, Si, Mn, Cu, Mo, Cr, Ni, P, Nb, V, B, W , Ti, S, Al, As and Sn.
◆ Determination of C (Carbon) and S (Sulphur) content in unalloyed, low-alloyed and high-alloyed steels by combustion and infrared absorption according to our internal method.
◆ Determination of O (Oxygen) content in unalloyed, low-alloyed and high-alloyed steels by reduction fusion and infrared absorption according to our internal method.
◆ Determination of N (nitrogen) and H (Hydrogen) content in unalloyed, low-alloyed and high-alloyed steels by reduction fusion and thermal conductivity according to our internal method.
*Accreditation N ° 1-6602 – field of application available on www.cofrac.fr
Thanks to the skills and the tools that we have available we are able to carry out dedicated simulations on solidification, hot shaping or heat treatment of metallic materials.
1. Solidification of metals
We use software to analyse the finite elements in ingot casting, continuous casting and the melting procedures. The simulations can be thermal, thermomechanical or fluid dynamic and provide information on the parameters at any point of the product during its solidification.
2 . Shaping
We have instruments that help us to analyze the hot and cold shaping processes, such as rolling and forging, so that the product range can be approved and any problems with shapes that may arise in the workshop can be solved.
3. Thermal calculations
Thermal calculations related to the heating and/or cooling processes that are necessary is carried out thanks to the use of 2D and 3D software.
4. Calculation of material characteristics
We are able to calculate the characteristics of the materials: equalizing, solidification behaviour, mechanical properties, thermal-physical data, phase transformation, chemical characteristics, etc …
Metallurgical expertise
ACM can provide the following appraisals:
◆ Validate compliance with specifications
◆ Damage analysis.
◆ Suggestions on the evolution of a material or its heat treatment
◆ Finding the origin of the differences in behaviour of two materials.
In addition to the current characterization techniques, ABS Center Métallurgique has a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with secondary electron and backscattered electron detectors and energy dispersive spectroscopy for a morphological and chemical examination of the particles, fractography, imaging and automatic sample mapping.
The laboratory is also equipped with 3 fatigue testing machines (hydraulic and electro-mechanical) for fatigue tests on both standardized specimens and components. Thanks to the in-depth knowledge of the entire mechanical component production process (from the design stage to the final application), our experts can help you solve problems relating to the fatigue phenomena.
Research projects
The close collaboration between customers and our teams is a key element to ensure the constant innovation of products, processes and services in order to meet the most complex requirements.
In this context, we explore two main areas: the development of new steel solutions and the optimization of manufacturing processes to implement them.
We can take on all or part of your research projects:
◆ Bibliographic studies
◆ Technical feasibility studies
◆ Suggested solutions to achieve the desired objectives
◆ Validation of solutions through laboratory tests
◆ Support in the industrialization phase
ACM supports you in the development of your manufacturing processes:
◆ Pilot tests for thermomechanical treatments.
◆ Search for the optimum parameters of your process in order to achieve the desired metallurgical result.
◆ Thermal measurements.
◆ Modelling of your production means.
To optimize the heat treatments for our customers and develop new solutions for specific applications, ACM has a dilatometer with an induction heating system and an inert gas cooling system. Thanks to its deformation modulus, compressive forces can be applied to simulate thermomechanical processes.
While ACM can suggest the parameters to be applied to obtain the expected characteristics using its laboratory equipment, these parameters can be validated by pre-industrialization tests using its heat treatment equipment.
We carry out on-site thermal measurements using our measuring methods:
◆ Mono or bi-chromatic pyrometers to cover temperature ranges from -35 to 1800°C.
◆ Thermal cameras covering measurement ranges from -20 to 1500°C.