How to read a steel MTC and check UT documents

Direct answer for inspection documents

A complete steel bar RFQ asks for more than documents. It states which certificate or report is required, which tests are expected, whether ultrasonic testing is needed, and how the documents should connect to grade, heat number, size, delivery condition, and application.

The chemistry units in a real 40Cr MTC excerpt

This is the same redacted 40Cr document excerpt published on the JOTAIN Quality page. Identity and commercial fields have been removed. Use it to practise reading technical fields; it cannot authenticate an issuer, establish a heat-to-shipment link or approve a current order. The chemistry and mechanical blocks must not be assumed to describe the same heat simply because their first visible rows are shown together.

Start with the unit and multiplier printed above each chemistry column. In this excerpt, the carbon and chromium columns use a multiplier of 100, while phosphorus uses 1,000. Divide each printed value by its own column multiplier to recover mass percent. Reading the integer 40 as 40% carbon, or applying the carbon multiplier to the phosphorus column, would change the meaning of the result.

Sources:[5]

Sources:[5]

Measured results, inspection status and acceptance

The first visible mechanical row reports Rp0.2 of 615 MPa, Rm of 795 MPa, elongation A of 21.0% and reduction of area Z of 67%. The impact block shows a KV2 result of 41 J under a −20°C heading. These are transcribed example results, not minimum values for every 40Cr bar. Before comparing an actual result with an order, confirm the test standard, specimen dimensions, orientation, location, material condition and applicable sampling rule.

The lower block includes the Chinese condition label 调质, meaning quenched and tempered, and an HBW hardness field. Its UT and MT fields are marked 合格, meaning reported conforming. A status field tells you the recorded disposition; it does not reveal the procedure, scan coverage, sensitivity, acceptance class or examined-bar identity. Request the linked examination report when those details are required by the order.

The redaction prevents a complete traceability check. For the unredacted order dossier, reconcile the heat number and inspection lot with the bar or bundle marks, purchase-order line, supplied size and condition, report identifiers and packing list. Confirm the issuer, authorized signatory and applicable document type. Resolve missing results or deviations before the shipment hold point is cleared.

Keep the distinction visible when sharing extracts: a specimen result describes the recorded test, an inspection status records a disposition, and shipment acceptance depends on the complete agreed requirements. This example supplies a reading method; acceptance limits and evidence for a future order must come from that order and its own inspection records.

Sources:[2][3][5]

What to state for MTC review

When a material test certificate is needed, state its type or project wording, heat-number traceability, grade standard, dimensions, delivery condition, and required test results.

When UT should be included

Ultrasonic testing should be requested when the drawing, project specification, application risk, or buyer quality route requires it. State UT requirement, size range, acceptance wording if known, and whether third-party inspection or witness review is expected.

Document timing and shipment planning

Inspection documents affect shipment preparation. Buyers should mention whether documents are needed before shipment, with shipment papers, or for customer approval, and should attach any drawing, specification, or inspection checklist that controls the order.

Build the dossier from decisions, not document names

Start with an order requirement matrix. For each characteristic, identify the controlling product or test standard, method, sample or coverage, acceptance rule, responsible issuer, traceability key, review timing, and release effect. ISO 404 provides general delivery context, while ISO 10474 defines inspection-document categories supplied according to an order. Neither makes the shorthand request MTC plus UT technically complete.

Sources:[1][2]

Documents and tests are different requests

Sources:[2][3][4]

Sources:[2][3][4]

Reconcile procedure, examination, identity, and release

Start UT wording with the product form and state being examined. Define accessible surfaces, coverage and excluded zones, technique, calibration or reference basis, and sensitivity controls. State evaluation and acceptance criteria, any specified recording threshold, personnel requirements, and equipment checks. Add the report content and how indications will be handled. BS EN 10308 provides a steel-bar UT standard, but the buyer and supplier must still resolve the order-specific choices. Do not claim that UT proves material defect-free. ^[3][4]

Sources:[1][3][4]

RFQ example

Item: Steel round bars per [PO schedule and revision]
Inspection document: ISO 10474 type [state], actual ordered results, authorized issuer route, heat and lot identity, and linked report register
UT: BS EN 10308 when applicable to the ordered product; approved procedure to state product state, technique, coverage, excluded zones, reference basis, acceptance, recording, and report fields
Personnel: ISO 9712 qualification and employer authorization for the ordered method and sector as stated in the inspection plan
Traceability: Report maps each examined bar or bundle and inspection lot to heat, size, condition, PO line, marks, and final packing line
Review: Draft templates before testing; indexed final dossier and closed deviations at the shipment hold point
Release: No dispatch until the buyer clears the hold point in writing

Sources:[1][2][3][4]