Steel inclusion report review checklist

JOTAIN Materials · Technical Resources · 22 September 2026

Use with the product specification and the agreed laboratory method. Enter the actual acceptance requirements before using the checklist to review a delivery.

Material and traceability

• Product, grade, section size and delivery condition recorded.
• Heat number, delivery lot, bar identity and specimen identity connected.
• Manufacturing route and relevant hot-working information recorded.
• Sample quantity and selection rule match the agreed inspection plan.

Product / grade: ______________________________

Heat / delivery lot: ___________________________

Bar / specimen IDs: ___________________________

Sampling and method

• Position along the bar and radial location recorded.
• Section orientation relative to hot working recorded.
• Standard, edition and selected method stated explicitly.
• Preparation condition, calibration and examined area reported.
• Detection threshold, size definition and counting rules stated where relevant.
• The surface was checked for pull-outs, contamination and other preparation artefacts.

Standard / edition / method: ___________________

Location / orientation: ________________________

Examined area / calibration: ___________________

Results and acceptance

• Required categories and thickness groups reported separately.
• Average, worst-field or other reporting basis identified.
• Micrographs have scale bars and specimen or field identifiers.
• Unusual or oversized inclusions and clusters recorded separately.
• Chemistry supported by a located EDS spectrum or map when identification is required.
• Each result compared with the exact governing purchase or product-specification requirement.
• Review, retest and disposition procedures agreed for disputed findings.

Acceptance clause / limits: ____________________

Reviewer / laboratory / date: __________________

Disposition / follow-up: _______________________

Additional records for a fracture investigation

• Whole-component and fracture photographs taken before specimen preparation.
• Heat, delivery, dimensions, hardness and service history supplied.
• Fracture origin handling and sectioning agreed with the laboratory.
• Failure location, loading and relevant operating events recorded.
• Comparisons planned with material away from the origin and retained material from the lot.

Selected references: ASTM E45-25; ISO 4967:2026; ASTM E1245-03(2023); ASTM E2283-08(2019). Use the standard and edition required by the order.

Related article: Non-Metallic Inclusions in Steel: What Hardness Tests Cannot Tell You.

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