Metal Glossary
Aluminium: U
Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), Tensile Strength
The maximum load, in tension, that a material can withstand before breaking. It is calculated as a breaking load for a standard cross section area.
Ultrasonic Test
A non-destructive test method using ultra high frequency sound waves to locate and assess the size of internal material defects.
Under-Ageing
An artificial ageing treatment that fails to achieve maximum or optimum increase in mechanical properties/hardening. It is caused either by processing for an insufficient time or at too low a temperature.
Upper Critical Strain
The minimum amount of cold work needed prior to annealing or solution treatment to produce a fine recrystallized equiaxed grain structure by eliminating the cold worked structure of elongated grains.