Blechprobe

Blechprobe is a term used in German technical practice to denote a specimen of sheet metal used for material testing, quality control, and process development. A Blechprobe is typically a small, standard-shaped piece cut from a sheet metal blank or panel, designed to represent the properties of the production material and any coatings or finishes.

The Blechprobe serves to evaluate mechanical properties such as formability, strength, and ductility, as well as surface characteristics like coating adhesion and corrosion resistance. Common types of tests performed on Blechproben include bend or draw tests to assess formability, tensile tests with sheet-metal–appropriate specimens, cupping (Erichsen) tests, hardness testing, and adhesion or scratch tests for coatings. For coated sheets, corrosion tests such as salt spray exposure may be used.

Preparation follows standards or internal guidelines: the sample is cut from the base material with carefully deburred edges, and the geometry and testing conditions (temperature, humidity, loading rate) are specified to ensure comparability across batches. The results from Blechproben inform material qualification, batch release, and process parameter settings in manufacturing.

Applications span metal producers, automotive and aerospace supply chains, construction, and engineering sectors. They support QA and QC workflows, calibration of stamping or coating processes, and material certification documents. Blechproben are used to compare material lots, verify conformity to specifications, and provide data for product development.

Etymology: the term combines Blech (sheet metal) and Probe (test piece). The concept is common in technical German and is also used in English-language contexts with the same meaning.