Small Punch Creep Test · EN 10371
SPC 650
Creep testing of creep-resistant steels up to 650 °C — from a negligible amount of material, for as long as it takes.
A fully automatic machine for estimating the residual life of components in conventional and supercritical power plant. The delivery is complete: it contains everything needed to master the Small Punch Creep Test, even without previous operator experience.
650 °C
maximum test temperature
1000 N
load range
±0.001 mm
punch tip displacement accuracy
1 kHz
data sampling
Where this machine sits in the temperature range
Which materials it is for
The maximum test temperature is not just a number in the name. It decides what the furnace, the cartridge, the thermocouples and the loading train are made of — and with them, which materials the machine can handle. SPC 650 is built for the classic power-plant range.
Low-alloy creep-resistant ferritic steels
The classic range of steam lines and boiler pressure parts.
Martensitic 9–12 % Cr steels
Materials of supercritical units and modern steam lines.
Fine-grained C-Mn and pressure-vessel steels
Vessel shells, headers and welded structures.
Weldments and heat-affected zones
Where only a negligible volume of material is available — and where component life is decided anyway.
Typical use
Residual life assessment of high-temperature components in conventional and supercritical units — steam lines, headers, superheaters, boiler membrane walls.
Components of petrochemical and process plant operating at elevated temperatures.
Material and weld development programmes where test material is scarce.
Technical parameters
The parameters apply to direct frictionless loading (DLS). With the lever version the load range is up to 500 N.
- Test temperature range
- up to 650 °C
- Temperature accuracy
- ±0.2 °C, resolution 0.1 °C
- Load range
- up to 1000 N, ±0.1 % F.S.
- Load ramp
- 30–120 s, no shock
- Loading rate
- 0.001–1 mm/min
- Direct loading travel
- ±30 mm
- Punch tip displacement accuracy
- ±0.001 mm
- Argon flow
- 0–30 ml/min, accuracy ±1 % F.S.
- Chamber tightness
- helium test, 1×10⁻⁹ Pa·m³·s⁻¹
- Test duration
- unlimited
- Data sampling
- up to 1 kHz, recording driven by punch displacement
- Standards
- EN 10371 · EN ISO 204 · ASTM E139 · ASTM E292
Choice of loading
Direct frictionless loading
DLSA direct push system with a creep-resistant load cell. No lever, no friction — the force on the specimen is the one you set, smoothly and accurately for the whole test.
- Load range
- up to 1000 N
- Load ramp
- 30–120 s, no shock
Lever loading
A lever with a defined specimen preload — the procedure many laboratories are used to and hold their own comparative data for from earlier programmes.
- Load range
- up to 500 N
- Test temperature
- up to 650 °C
Choice of cartridge — two specimen sizes
The machine is the same in both cases; only the exchangeable cartridge with the punch and the die changes. You choose according to how much material you have — and the decision is not final, the cartridge can be ordered later.
Small Punch
to EN 10371The standard geometry of the standard. Results are directly comparable with other laboratories.
- Test piece
- Ø8 × 0.5 mm
- Punch
- R1.25 mm (Ø2.5 mm ball)
- Die bore
- Ø4 mm
- Die chamfer
- 0.2 × 45°
Mini Small Punch
to EN 10371For cases where the material really is scarce — it fits on a three-millimetre disc. Originally from TEM discs, typically irradiated materials. Ø1 mm ball.
- Test piece
- Ø3 × 0.25 mm
- Punch
- R0.5 mm
- Die bore
- Ø1.75 mm
- Die chamfer
- 0.2 mm
Both geometries are part of EN 10371 — results from either are to the standard. For the miniature test piece, however, the standard itself notes that there is less experience with it so far, and gives some of the more detailed recommendations only for the standard Ø8 mm size. Take that into account when planning a test programme.
What this machine does differently
01
Loading without friction
A direct push system with a creep-resistant load cell. No lever, no friction — the force on the specimen is the one you set.
02
Temperature measured on the specimen
The thermocouple rests on the surface of the test piece with a 5 N contact force. Not the air temperature in the furnace, but the temperature of the material — controlled and held for the whole test.
03
The specimen protected throughout
A gas-tight chamber with argon, verified by a helium test to a leak rate of 1×10⁻⁹ Pa·m³·s⁻¹, and automatic compensation of the bellows stiffness. No oxidation, no distortion of the result.
04
Ceramics with precise geometry
Punch, both dies and the balls in Si₃N₄ to very tight dimensions, cartridge in nickel steel. That is where the long service life and the repeatable test geometry come from.
05
The test survives a power cut
The UPS holds the machine for at least 10 minutes — enough for a smooth switch to the laboratory back-up supply. A thousand-hour test is not thrown away.
06
Everything is recorded
Temperature, force, punch tip displacement, creep rate, argon flow, furnace thermocouples and the state of the UPS. Recording is driven by punch displacement, not only by time.
07
Supervision from anywhere
Fully automated software with visual indication of the machine state, remote control from Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux.
08
Repeatability you can demonstrate
You can check the results against the reference specimens supplied with the machine at any time. Suitable for quality systems to ISO 9001:2015.
The machine at work
What is included
The delivery is complete — it contains everything needed to master the method, even if the operator has no previous experience with it.
Complete system
Machine, accessories and spare parts. Nothing has to be bought on top to get the method running.
Reference specimens
Part of the delivery — check on them at any time that the machine measures as it should.
Operator training
A two-day course in your laboratory, on your machine and your specimens.
Cartridges and ceramics
Nickel-steel cartridge, dies, punch and Si₃N₄ balls in the precise geometry of EN 10371.
Dimensions and site requirements
- Machine dimensions
- 780 × 780 × 2040 mm
- With the test table
- 1800 × 1000 × 2040 mm
- Power supply
- 1 NPE 230 V AC 50–60 Hz, TN-S, 16 A
- Surge protection
- EN 61643-11, SPD type 1 and type 2
- Argon
- 5.0 (min. 99.999 %), pressure 50 kPa
- Gas connection
- Parker A-LOK, metric T 6MO-3
- Environment
- air conditioning 23 ± 2 °C
- Supply line
- fixed, with room ventilation
- Weight
- 130 kg / 185 kg with the table
Tell us what you need to measure
Material, service temperatures, load range. We will advise whether SPC 650 is enough or whether it is worth going higher in the range — and come back with a price and a lead time.
Materials
Product leaflet
Leaflet with more detailed information about the product. Available on request.
Request