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NISTIR 8005

Applicability of Existing Materials 

Testing Standards for Additive 

Manufacturing Materials

John Slotwinski

Shawn Moylan 

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8005
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NISTIR 8005 

Applicability of Existing Materials 

Testing Standards for Additive 

Manufacturing Materials 

John Slotwinski

Shawn Moylan

Intelligent Systems Division

Engineering Laboratory

This publication is available free of charge from:

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8005

June 2014

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Penny Pritzker, Secretary

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Willie May, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Acting Director 
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ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

APPLICABILITY ASSESSMENT

Mechanical Testing of Metal Parts 2

Metal Powder Testing 11

DISCUSSION AND NEXT STEPS 14

REFERENCES 14
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1

INTRODUCTION

This NIST Internal Report (NISTIR) is the third in a series of reports from the National Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST) Engineering Laboratory’s project on Additive Manufacturing Materials. 

This project provides the measurement science for the additive manufacturing (AM) industry to 

measure material properties of additive manufacturing materials in a standardized way. Currently there 

are no additive manufacturing-specific consensus-based standards in this area. This project, in 

conjunction with the NIST Engineering Laboratory’s other additive manufacturing projects, will provide 

the technical foundation and documentary standards development necessary to develop new 

consensus-based standards for AM materials, AM processes, and AM part qualification. This will be done 

via ASTM-International’s (hereafter referred to as ‘ASTM-I’) Committee F42 on Additive Manufacturing 

Technologies and the newly formed International Organization for Standardization (ISO) TC261

committee on Additive Manufacturing.

Determining the properties of the powder used for metal-based additive manufacturing, as well as the 

properties of the resulting bulk metal material, is a necessary condition for AM users to be able to 

confidently select powder and produce consistent parts with known and predictable properties. 

Standardized methods for characterizing the properties of metal powders and metal parts already exist. 

Summaries of these existing methods were published in NISTIR 7847 [1], for bulk metal materials 

properties, and NISTIR 7873 [2], for metal powder properties. While many of these existing standards 

are applicable for AM powders and parts, others are not, while still others are applicable with some 

additional modifications or guidance to the existing standards. This report summarizes an assessment of 

the applicability of the standards described in NISTIR 7847 and NISTIR 7873 for use on metal AM 

powders and parts.

The applicability assessment presented here is based on our knowledge and experiences of the various 

test methods, as well as our experiences and knowledge on the capabilities of metal powder-bed AM 

systems. For each of the ASTM and ISO standards presented here, a qualitative judgment on the degree 

of applicability of the standard for AM metal powders and parts is presented. This is shown in tabular 

form in the next section. A description of each applicability classification is described at the beginning of 

the table.
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2

APPLICABILITY ASSESSMENT

In this chart, each standard is given one of the following classifications in determining if it is applicable for additive manufacturing. Some 

standards have additional pertinent text in the NOTES column.

 YES – The standard should be applicable for additive manufacturing without any modifications.

 YES WITH GUIDANCE – The standard should be generally applicable for additive manufacturing, but there may be limits on its 

applicability, or additional considerations. These include: 

o Limits on some ranges of test specimens, especially thin sheets and wires that may not be easily realized via metals-based 

commercial additive manufacturing systems; however some specimens can be readily built via AM.

o Required post-processing such that specimens built via additive manufacturing meet the requirements of the standard; this 

typically includes surface finish or dimensional requirements.

o Material isotropy requirements. AM specimens usually have some inherent anisotropy. The measurement methods that specify 

applicability for isotropic materials may still work, but the measured results may have larger uncertainties.

o Application specific considerations, such as elevated testing temperatures.

 NOT A TEST METHOD – These standards may have useful auxiliary information, such as terminology, but they are not by themselves a 

test method.

 NO – The standard either requires specimens that certainly cannot be built via AM, or the measurement simply is not applicable.

This analysis does not address any measurement-specific safety issues, such as those that may be encountered while manipulating raw AM 

powder, which may require additional modifications and/or considerations.

MECHANICAL TESTING OF METAL PARTS

Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM Testing?

Notes

ASTM E0006 Terminology Relating to 

Methods of Mechanical Testing

Not a test 

method

This is not a testing standard, it is a terminology document

ASTM A370 Standard Test Methods and 

Definitions for Mechanical 

Testing of Steel Products

Yes For steel, refers to several other testing standards for basics and adds additional 

requirements/guidance, includes hardness, tension and impact testing

ASTM A1058 Standard Test Methods for 

Mechanical Testing of Steel 

Products—Metric

Yes Same as ASTM A370 but in SI units
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Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM Testing?

Notes

ASTM B557 Standard Test Methods for 

Tension Testing Wrought and 

Cast Aluminum- and 

Magnesium-Alloy Products

Yes ASTM B557 is for Al and Magnesium, ASTM E8 is the basic method 

ASTM E8 Standard Test Methods for 

Tension Testing of Metallic 

Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic method for tension testing at room temperature (10°C – 38°C, 50°F – 100°F). Not all 

specimen types can be made additively (e.g., wire and sheet). Includes requirements for 

powder metallurgy materials that should cover AM specimens.

ASTM E0021 Test Methods for Elevated 

Temperature Tension Tests of 

Metallic Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Like ASTM E8 but at elevated temperatures (assume > 38°C/100°F). Yes with guidance 

that depends on application.

ASTM E0292 Test Methods for Conducting 

Time-for-Rupture Notch Tension 

Tests of Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ASTM E8 but uses notched specimens. This test is done at elevated 

temperatures and with constant loads. Pre-test specimens need post-processing (after 

AM building) to achieve dimensional requirements.

ASTM E0740 Practice for Fracture Testing

with Surface-Crack Tension 

Specimens

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ASTM E8 but for plate with an existing flaw. Possible specimen thickness 

limitations for AM specimens.

ASTM E1450 Test Method for Tension Testing 

of Structural Alloys in Liquid 

Helium

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ASTM E8 but done at cryogenic temperatures. May require possible 

application-specific guidance.

ISO 6892-1:2009 Metallic materials -- Tensile 

testing -- Part 1: Method of test 

at room temperature

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic ISO method similar to ASTM E8, includes additional test sample geometries (sheet, 

wire, etc.) that may not be appropriate for AM.

ISO 6892-2:2011 Metallic materials -- Tensile 

testing -- Part 2: Method of test 

at elevated temperature

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ISO 6892-1 and ASTM E8 but at elevated temperatures. Sheet and wire 

specimens may not be appropriate for AM.

ISO 15579:2000 Metallic materials -- Tensile 

testing at low temperature

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ISO 6892-1 and ASTM E8 but at low temperatures (between 10°C and -196°C.)

Sheet and wire specimens may not be appropriate for AM, also potentially application 

specific.

ISO 19819:2004 Metallic materials -- Tensile 

testing in liquid helium

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ISO 6892-1 and ASTM E8 but at a very low temperature (-269°C or 4.2K, liquid 

He temperature.) Also can be done at cryogenic temperatures (less that -196°C or 77K.)

Sheet and wire specimens may not be appropriate for AM, also potentially application 

specific.

ISO 26203-1:2010 Metallic materials -- Tensile 

testing at high strain rates -- Part 

1: Elastic-bar-type systems

No Similar to ISO 6892-1 but for sheet materials such as those for car bodies, and at high 

strain rates (> 102 s

-1

).These parts cannot currently be built on commercial AM systems

due to their large size.

ISO 26203-2:2011 Metallic materials -- Tensile 

testing at high strain rates -- Part 

2: Servo-hydraulic and other test 

systems

No Similar to ISO 6892-1 but for sheet materials such as those for car bodies, and at high 

strain rates (10-2 s

-1

to 103 s

-1

). These parts cannot currently be built on commercial AM 

systems due to their large size.
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Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM Testing?

Notes

ASTM E9 Test Methods of Compression 

Testing of Metallic Materials at 

Room Temperature

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic test for axial-load compression testing of metals at room temperature. Not all of 

the sample types (e.g., thin sheets) can be made additively.

ASTM E0209 Practice for Compression Tests 

of Metallic Materials at Elevated 

Temperatures with Conventional 

or Rapid Heating Rates and 

Strain Rates

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ASTM E9 but for specimens that are heated at a uniform temperature (up to 

and beyond 1000°F/538°C). Yes, depending on application.

ASTM E0238 Test Method for Pin-Type 

Bearing Test of Metallic 

Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic and only method for pin-type bearing. The surface finish requirements and some 

thickness requirements are problematic for some metal-based commercial AM systems.

ASTM E0111 Test Method for Young's 

Modulus, Tangent Modulus, and 

Chord Modulus

Yes Limited to materials, temperatures, and stresses where creep is negligible. ASTM E8 and 

ASTM E9 are the basic tension and compression methods; this provides additional 

guidance (number of trials, specimens, temperature etc.) and defines the three moduli. 

Provides guidance for both high and low temperatures.

ASTM E0143 Test Method for Shear Modulus 

at Room Temperature

Yes Basic method for shear modulus at room temperature only.

ASTM E1875 Test Method for Dynamic 

Young's Modulus, Shear 

Modulus, and Poisson's Ratio by 

Sonic Resonance

Yes with 

Guidance

Instead of macro deformation, uses sonic resonance (which may be considered micro

deformation.) This standard covers room, elevated, and very low temperatures in the 

range -195°C to 1200°C. Strict requirements for isotropic materials may be a problem for 

some AM parts/processes.

ASTM E1876 Test Method for Dynamic 

Young's Modulus, Shear 

Modulus, and Poisson's Ratio by 

Impulse Excitation of Vibration

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ASTM E1875 but with an impulse instead of a body resonance. This might be

considered micro-scale deformation. States that can be performed at non-room 

temperatures. Strict requirements for isotropic materials may be a problem for some AM 

parts/processes.

ASTM E0466 Practice for Conducting Force 

Controlled Constant Amplitude 

Axial Fatigue Tests of Metallic 

Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic method; fatigue testing of axial un-notched and notched specimens subjected to 

constant amplitude periodic forcing function in air at room temp. Used to test effect of 

variations in material, geometry, surface condition, etc. Test is finished when it fails or a 

certain number of cycles are reached. Samples will require post-processing to achieve 

recommended surface roughness and notch geometry.

ASTM E0467 Practice for Verification of 

Constant Amplitude Dynamic 

Forces in an Axial Fatigue 

Testing System

Not a test 

method

A “method for testing the tests.” This is not a test method.

ASTM E0468 Practice for Presentation of 

Constant Amplitude Fatigue Test 

Results for Metallic Materials

Not a test 

method

Not a method, it’s about what to report.

ASTM E0606 Practice for Strain-Controlled 

Fatigue Testing

Yes Similar to ISO 1099; strain-controlled instead of force-controlled fatigue. Uniqueness is 

that it yields the determination of cyclic stresses and strains at any time during the tests. 
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Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM Testing?

Notes

ASTM E0647 Test Method for Measurement 

of Fatigue Crack Growth Rates

Yes with 

Guidance

Determines fatigue crack growth rates from near-threshold to Kmax controlled instability. 

Possible anisotropy issues.

ASTM E1049 Practices for Cycle Counting in 

Fatigue Analysis

Not a test 

method

Not a test method but still potentially useful for fatigue analysis of AM specimens.

ASTM E1823 Terminology Relating to Fatigue 

and Fracture Testing

Not a test 

method

ASTM E1942 Guide for Evaluating Data 

Acquisition Systems Used in 

Cyclic Fatigue and Fracture 

Mechanics Testing

Not a test 

method

ASTM E2368 Practice for Strain Controlled 

Thermomechanical Fatigue 

Testing

Yes with 

Guidance

Uniform temperature and strain fields over the specimen are simultaneously varied and 

independently controlled. AM samples would likely need post-processing.

ASTM E2714 Test Method for Creep-Fatigue 

Testing

Yes with 

Guidance

Determines deformation and crack formation or nucleation as a consequence of 

constant-amplitude strain-controlled tests or constant-amplitude force-controlled tests 

(ASTM E0606 and ASTM E0466, ISO 12106 and ISO 1099.) Typically done at elevated 

temperatures and involves sequential or simultaneous application of loading conditions 

necessary to generate cyclic deformation/damage enhanced by creep 

deformation/damage or vice-versa. The difference with the basic method is the long hold 

time.

ASTM E2760 Test Method for Creep-Fatigue 

Crack Growth Testing

Yes with 

Guidance

ASTM E2760 is to ASTM E0647 as ASTM E2709 is to ASTM E0606 or ASTM E0466. 

Concerns fatigue cycling with long loading/unloading rates and/or hold times to cause 

creep deformation at the crack tip and the creep deformation be responsible for 

enhancing the crack growth per loading cycle.

ASTM E2789 Guide for Fretting Fatigue 

Testing

Yes ASTM E0466 is the basic method. Small amplitude motion, usually tangential, between 

two solid surfaces in contact.

ISO 1099:2006 Metallic materials -- Fatigue 

testing -- Axial force-controlled 

method

Yes with 

Guidance

Samples are similar to ASTM E0466; stress vs. cycles to failure. Can be done at high 

temperatures. Basic method. AM samples will require post-processing to achieve 

recommended surface roughness.

ISO 1143:2010 Metallic materials -- Rotating bar 

bending fatigue testing

Yes with 

Guidance

Circular cross-section samples, rotated and subjected to bending moment. Application 

specific, post-processing may be required.

ISO 1352:2011 Metallic materials -- Torquecontrolled fatigue testingYes Similar to ISO 1352 but for torque.

ISO 12106:2003 Metallic materials -- Fatigue 

testing -- Axial-strain-controlled 

method

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ISO 1099 but for low-cycle fatigue tests. Imposed constant strain rate; test 

starts by testing elastic region to measure modulus (checked vs nominal), test stops are 

failure. High and low temps mentioned. Samples will require post-processing to achieve 

recommended surface roughness.

ISO 12108:2002 Metallic materials -- Fatigue 

testing -- Fatigue crack growth 

Yes with 

Guidance

Primarily intended for isotropic materials; variety of samples and tests. 
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Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM Testing?

Notes

method

ISO 12111:2011 Metallic materials -- Fatigue 

testing -- Strain-controlled 

thermomechanical fatigue 

testing method

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ISO 12106 but with the addition of temperature cycling. Samples will require 

post-processing to achieve recommended surface roughness.

ASTM B645 Standard Practice for LinearElastic Plane-Strain Fracture 

Toughness Testing of Aluminum 

Alloys

Yes with 

Guidance

Fracture toughness is resistance to crack extension; Basic test method for plane-strain 

fracture toughness of aluminum. Supplements E399 and B646. Samples will require postprocessing to achieve recommended surface roughness and dimensional tolerances.

ASTM B909 Standard Guide for Plane Strain 

Fracture Toughness Testing of 

Non-Stress Relieved Aluminum 

Products

Yes with 

Guidance

ASTM E399 or ISO 12737 is basic method. ASTM B909 provides supplemental information 

for plane-strain toughness testing of Al where complete stress relief is not possible. 

Additive manufacturing samples will require post-processing to achieve recommended 

surface roughness and dimensional tolerances.

ASTM B646 Standard Practice for Fracture 

Toughness Testing of Aluminum 

Alloys

Not a Test 

Method

Provides guidelines for test selection for fracture toughness properties of Al, particularly 

for quality assurance and material release purposes. Provides supplemental information 

on specimen size, analysis, and interpretation of results, particularly for varying 

thicknesses.

ASTM E0023 Test Methods for Notched Bar 

Impact Testing of Metallic 

Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Notched-bar impact testing of metals by Charpy (simple-beam) and Izod (cantileverbeam) tests. Describes 4 differences between two tests (sample notches, holding 

mechanism, impact location, sample dimension). Additive manufacturing samples will 

require post-processing to achieve recommended dimensional tolerances.

ASTM E0399 Test Method for Linear-Elastic 

Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness 

KIc of Metallic Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic method. See also ISO 12737. For metals under linear-elastic, plane-strain 

conditions using fatigue pre-cracked specimens subjected to a slowly increasing crackdisplacement force. May require post-process machining for notch.

ASTM E1221 Test Method for Determining 

Plane-Strain Crack-Arrest 

Fracture Toughness, KIa, of 

Ferritic Steels

Yes with 

Guidance

Samples may require post-processing.

ASTM E1290 Test Method for Crack-Tip 

Opening Displacement (CTOD) 

Fracture Toughness 

Measurement

Yes with 

Guidance

Determines critical crack-tip opening displacement (CTOD) values, used to measure 

cleavage crack initiation toughness for materials that exhibit a change from ductile to 

brittle behavior with decreasing temp. Notches may require post-processing (additional 

machining).

ASTM E1304 Test Method for Plane-Strain 

(Chevron-Notch) Fracture 

Toughness of Metallic Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Chevron-shaped-notch, notches may require post-processing (additional machining).

ASTM E1820 Test Method for Measurement 

of Fracture Toughness

Yes with 

Guidance

This also appears to be the basic ASTM method for fracture toughness. Load a fatigue 

pre-cracked test specimen to induce either unstable crack extension and/or stable crack 

extension. Need to measure force versus load-line displacement or crack mouth opening 
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Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM Testing?

Notes

displacement or both. ASTM E1921 recommended for testing ferric steels that undergo 

cleavage fracture in the ductile-to-brittle transition. Notches may require post-processing 

(additional machining).

ISO 148-1:2009 Metallic materials -- Charpy 

pendulum impact test -- Part 1: 

Test method

Yes with 

Guidance

Break notched test piece with a single blow from a swinging pendulum. Mention of 

heated or cooled tests in a liquid or gaseous medium. Notches may require postprocessing (additional machining).

ISO 148-3:2008 Metallic materials -- Charpy 

pendulum impact test -- Part 3: 

Preparation and characterization 

of Charpy V-notch test pieces for 

indirect verification of pendulum 

impact machines

Not a Test 

Method.

This is about sample prep.

ISO 12135:2002 Metallic materials -- Unified 

method of test for the 

determination of quasistatic 

fracture toughness

Yes with 

Guidance

Fracture toughness (resistance to crack extension) in terms of stress intensity factor (K), 

crack-tip displacement (), loading parameter (J) and resistance curves for homogenous 

metallic materials. Continually increasing force applied to sample by uniaxial tension or 

3-point bending. Notches may require post-processing (additional machining).

ISO 12737:2010 Metallic materials --

Determination of plane-strain 

fracture toughness

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ASTM E399. Determines plane-strain fracture toughness (Klc) of homogeneous 

metallic materials using a specimen that is notched and pre-cracked by fatigue, and 

slowly increasing crack displacement force. Notches may require post-processing 

(additional machining).

ISO 14556:2000 Steel -- Charpy V-notch 

pendulum impact test --

Instrumented test method

Yes with 

Guidance

Similar to ISO 148 but for steels. Notches may require post-processing (additional 

machining).

ISO 22889:2007 Metallic materials -- Method of 

test for the determination of 

resistance to stable crack 

extension using specimens of 

low constraint

Yes with 

Guidance

ISO 12135 is the basic method. ISO 22889 applies to samples that are very small (i.e., 

have size sensitivity). May require post-processing.

ISO 27306:2009 Metallic materials -- Method of 

constraint loss correction of 

CTOD fracture toughness for 

fracture assessment of steel 

components

Not a test 

method

Converts fracture toughness from lab specimens to equivalent toughness for structural 

components. This is not a test method; it is a description for how to use method.

ASTM E0740 Practice for Fracture Testing 

with Surface-Crack Tension 

Specimens

Yes with 

Guidance

Covers design, prep, and testing of surface-crack specimens. Test is performed with 

continuously increasing force and excludes cyclic and sustained loadings. Determines 

residual strength of a specimen with a semi-elliptical or circular-segment fatigue crack. 

Requires post-processing to make initial pre-crack.

ASTM E1457 Test Method for Measurement 

of Creep Crack Growth Times in 

Metals

Yes with 

Guidance

Determines creep crack growth in metals at elevated temps using pre-cracked specimens 

subjected to static or quasi-static loading conditions. Requires post-processing to make 

initial pre-crack.
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Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM Testing?

Notes

ASTM E1681 Test Method for Determining 

Threshold Stress Intensity Factor 

for Environment-Assisted 

Cracking of Metallic Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Appears to be basic method, requires environmental chamber. Requires post-processing 

to make initial pre-crack since most metal-based AM cannot produce a test specimen 

with a small-enough crack.

ASTM E2472 Test Method for Determination 

of Resistance to Stable Crack 

Extension under Low-Constraint 

Conditions

Yes with 

Guidance

For low-constraint conditions (crack-length-to-thickness and un-cracked ligament-tothickness ratios are greater than or equal to 4) and that are tested under slowly 

increasing remote applied displacement. Requires post-processing to make initial precrack.

ASTM B769 Standard Test Method for Shear 

Testing of Aluminum Alloys

Yes with 

Guidance

Double-shear loading using a tension or compression testing machine. Requires postprocessing in order to meet surface finish specification.

ASTM B565 Standard Test Method for Shear 

Testing of Aluminum and 

Aluminum-Alloy Rivets and ColdHeading Wire and Rods

No Metal wire, rivets, and rods are difficult to make via additive manufacturing

ASTM E0010 Test Method for Brinell 

Hardness of Metallic Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic method for Brinell; tests at temperatures outside of nominal (10°C to 35°C) 

permitted. Requires post-processing in order to meet surface finish specification.

ASTM E0018 Test Methods for Rockwell 

Hardness of Metallic Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic method for Rockwell; tests at temperatures outside of nominal (10°C to 35°C) 

permitted. Requires post-processing in order to meet surface finish specification.

ASTM E0140 Hardness Conversion Tables for 

Metals Relationship Among 

Brinell Hardness, Vickers 

Hardness, Rockwell Hardness, 

Superficial Hardness, Knoop 

Hardness, and Scleroscope 

Hardness

Not a test 

method.

Tables that convert hardness values of one type of tests to other types.

ASTM E0384 Test Method for Knoop and 

Vickers Hardness of Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic methods for Knoop and Vickers; tests at temperatures outside of nominal (10°C to 

35°C) permitted. Post-processing likely necessary for proper specimen surface roughness. 

ASTM E0448 Practice for Scleroscope 

Hardness Testing of Metallic 

Materials

Yes with 

Guidance

Dynamic indentation hardness (drop and bounce). This is the basic method. Requires 

post-processing in order to meet surface finish specification.

ASTM B647 Standard Test Method for 

Indentation Hardness of 

Aluminum Alloys by Means of a 

Webster Hardness Gage

Yes with 

Guidance

Webster gage for Al only. This is a portable handheld device useful for in-situ

measurements; good for production/quality control purposes. Not as sensitive as 

Rockwell or Brinell. Requires post-processing in order to meet surface finish specification.

ASTM B648 Standard Test Method for 

Indentation Hardness of 

Aluminum Alloys by Means of a 

Barcol Impressor

Yes with 

Guidance

Barcol gage for Al only. This is a portable handheld device useful for in-situ

measurements; good for production/quality control purposes. Not as sensitive as 

Rockwell or Brinell. Requires post-processing in order to meet surface finish specification.
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Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM Testing?

Notes

ASTM B724 Standard Test Method for 

Indentation Hardness of 

Aluminum Alloys by Means of a 

Newage, Portable, Non-CaliperType Instrument

Yes with 

Guidance 

Newage gage for Al only. Good for large pieces that can’t be measured with a calipertype instrument. Requires post-processing in order to meet surface finish specification.

ISO 4545-1:2005 Metallic materials -- Knoop 

hardness test -- Part 1: Test 

method

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic Knoop test like ASTM E0384. Requires post-processing in order to meet surface 

finish specification.

ISO 6506-1:2005 Metallic materials -- Brinell 

hardness test -- Part 1: Test 

method

Yes with 

Guidance 

Basic Brinell test like ASTM E0010. Requires post-processing in order to meet surface 

finish specification.

ISO 6507-1:2005 Metallic materials -- Vickers 

hardness test -- Part 1: Test 

method

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic Vickers test like ASTM E0384. Requires post-processing in order to meet surface 

finish specification.

ISO 6508 Metallic materials -- Rockwell 

hardness test -- Part 1: Test 

method (scales A, B, C, D, E, F, G,

H, K, N, T)

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic Rockwell test like ASTM E0018. Requires post-processing in order to meet surface 

finish specification.

ISO 14577 Metallic materials --

Instrumented indentation test 

for hardness and materials 

parameters -- Part 1: Test 

method

Yes with 

Guidance

This test considers the force and displacement of the indentation during plastic and 

elastic deformation; monitoring the complete cycle of increasing and removal of test 

force. Requires post-processing in order to meet surface finish specification.

ISO/TR 

29381:2008

Metallic materials --

Measurement of mechanical 

properties by an instrumented 

indentation test -- Indentation 

tensile properties

Not a Test 

Method

Can derive tensile properties from indentation measurements via one of three methods 

(representative stress-strain, inverse FEA methods, or neural networks). Not a test 

method.

ASTM E0132 Test Method for Poisson's Ratio 

at Room Temperature

Yes with 

Guidance

Basic method, tension tests, requires extensometers; room temp only. Requires postprocessing; specimens should be stress-relieved, isotropic and homogeneous.

ASTM E0290 Test Methods for Bend Testing 

of Material for Ductility

Yes Bend testing for ductility of materials

ASTM E0837 Test Method for Determining 

Residual Stresses by the HoleDrilling Strain-Gage Method

Yes with 

Guidance

Isotropic and linearly-elastic materials only; drill hole at center of strain rosette, and 

measure strains. If AM materials are anisotropic then this method may not be applicable.

ASTM E0915 Test Method for Verifying the 

Alignment of X-Ray Diffraction 

Instrumentation for Residual 

Stress Measurement

No This is not a materials test method, it is a method for verifying the alignment of an X-ray 

machine.
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Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM Testing?

Notes

ISO 7438:2005 Metallic materials -- Bend test Yes Like ASTM E0290.

ISO 11531:1994 Metallic materials -- Earing test No Metal AM systems cannot easily make samples with thicknesses of 100 m.

ISO/TR 

14936:1998

Metallic materials -- Strain 

analysis report

Yes with 

Guidance

The standard applies to sheet but the thickness requirements are not specified. AM 

cannot make a very thin sheet.

ASTM E0003 Guide for Preparation of 

Metallographic Specimens

Not a test 

method

Not a mechanical test method, but important for micro-structural analysis. 

ASTM E0007 Terminology Relating to 

Metallography

Not a test 

method

Terminology.

ASTM B348 Standard Specification for 

Titanium and Titanium Alloy 

Bars and Billets

Not a test 

method

Not a mechanical test method, but does contain useful specs for various materials that 

could be compared to those that are made additively.

ASTM B211 Standard Specification for 

Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy 

Bar, Rod, and Wire

Not a test 

method

Not a mechanical test method, but does contain useful specs for various materials that 

could be compared to those that are made additively.
This publication is available free of charge from http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8005

11

METAL POWDER TESTING

Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM?

Notes

ASTM B212 Standard Test Method for 

Apparent Density of FreeFlowing Metal Powders Using 

the Hall Flowmeter Funnel

Yes

ASTM B213 Standard Test Methods for Flow 

Rate of Metal Powders Using the 

Hall Flowmeter Funnel

Yes

ASTM B214 Standard Test Method for Sieve 

Analysis of Metal Powders

Yes with 

Guidance

Applicable for sieves with openings from 45 m to 1000 m. Not suitable for powders 

smaller than 45 m. 

ASTM B215 Standard Practices for Sampling 

Metal Powders

Yes

ASTM B243 Standard Terminology of 

Powder Metallurgy

Not a test 

method

Terminology, not a test method.

ASTM B329 Standard Test Method for 

Apparent Density of Metal 

Powders and Compounds Using 

the Scott Volumeter

Yes

ASTM B417 Standard Test Method for 

Apparent Density of Non-FreeFlowing Metal Powders Using 

the Carney Funnel

No AM powders are typically free flowing, in fact they flow exceptionally well.

ASTM B527 Standard Test Method for 

Determination of Tap Density of 

Metallic Powders and 

Compounds

Yes

ASTM B703 Standard Test Method for 

Apparent Density of Metal 

Powders and Related 

Compounds Using the Arnold 

Meter

Yes

ASTM B761 Standard Test Method for 

Particle Size Distribution of 

Metal Powders and Related 

Compounds by X-Ray 

Monitoring of Gravity 

Sedimentation

Yes with 

Guidance

Test method works best “for the analysis of elemental tungsten, tungsten carbide, 

molybdenum, and tantalum. Other metal powders may be analyzed using this method 

with caution as to significance until actual satisfactory experience is developed.” It 

appears that this only works for particles with sizes > 25 m (and minimum size depends 

on species).
This publication is available free of charge from http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8005

12

Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM?

Notes

ASTM B822 Standard Test Method for 

Particle Size Distribution of 

Metal Powders and Related 

Compounds by Light Scattering

Yes

ASTM B855 Standard Test Method for 

Volumetric Flow Rate of Metal 

Powders Using the Arnold Meter 

and Hall Flowmeter Funnel

Yes

ASTM B923 Standard Test Method for Metal 

Powder Skeletal Density by 

Helium or Nitrogen Pycnometry

Yes

ASTM B964 Standard Test Methods for Flow 

Rate of Metal Powders Using the 

Carney Funnel

Yes

ASTM C177 Standard Test Method for 

Steady-State Heat Flux 

Measurements and Thermal 

Transmission Properties by 

Means of the Guarded-Hot-Plate 

Apparatus

Yes with 

Guidance

Method uses solid specimens, applicability to powder specimens is uncertain.

ASTM E161 Standard Specification for 

Precision Electroformed Sieves

Not a Test 

Method

This standard presents the specifications for precision electroformed sieves, and is not a 

test method.

ASTM E1409 Standard Test Method for 

Determination of Oxygen and 

Nitrogen in Titanium and 

Titanium Alloys by the Inert Gas 

Fusion Technique

No This method will likely not work with metal powders since as part of the method the 

surface of the material must first be removed, either chemically or mechanically. Given 

the small diameters of AM powders, this is very impractical, and may completely 

consume the powder under test.

ASTM E1447 Standard Test Method for 

Determination of Hydrogen in 

Titanium and Titanium Alloys by 

Inert Gas Fusion Thermal 

Conductivity - Infrared Detection 

Method

No This method requires solid form specimens.

ASTM E1461 Standard Test Method for 

Thermal Diffusivity by the Flash 

Method

No This method requires homogeneous isotropic solid disc specimens.

ASTM E1569 Standard Test Method for 

Determination of Oxygen in 

Tantalum Powder by Inert Gas 

Fusion Technique

No This method is only for tantalum powders.
This publication is available free of charge from http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8005

13

Standard 

Designation

Standard Name Applicable for 

AM?

Notes

ASTM E2792 Standard Test Method for 

Determination of Hydrogen in 

Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys 

by Inert Gas Fusion

No This method does not seem to be applicable to powder samples.
This publication is available free of charge from http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8005

14

DISCUSSION AND NEXT STEPS

The analysis in this report shows that AM-specific materials standards for characterizing the properties 

of metal powders and metal parts do not have to be developed from scratch. Decades of powder 

property testing (born out of powder metallurgy processes) and mechanical property testing has 

resulted in a suite of existing standards that can form the basis for AM-specific materials standards. This

report shows that while some of these existing standards are not appropriate for AM materials, many 

are, either in the current form or with some additional guidance or enhancements to adequately 

account for the characteristics of AM materials. Standards development organizations such as ASTM-I 

F42 can now use this information in the development of new AM-specific materials standards, especially 

new standards that are largely based on the existing standards contained in this report.

REFERENCES

 

[1] Slotwinski, J.A., Cooke, A.L., Moylan, S.P., “Mechanical Properties Testing for Metal Parts Made via Additive 

Manufacturing: A Review of the State of the Art of Mechanical Property Testing,” NISTIR 7847, March, 2012.

[2] Cooke, A.L., Slotwinski, J.A., “Properties of Metal Powders for Additive Manufacturing: A Review of the State of 

the Art of Metal Powder Property Testing,” NIST IR 7873, July, 2012