SmartComp GuideThe SmartComp search is based on inserting main alloying elements, which the SmartComp algorithm uses to identify unknown composition with compositions of alloys within the database. Below are shown SmartComp parameters that can be adjusted for performing the search:

Base element - a necessary step is to select a base element for the unknown material

Similarity threshold - refers to a level of similarity of materials found compared to the original one to be identified; by selecting it you adjust the border above which you want the results to be displayed, so that the result list contain all alloys with the similarity above the defined similarity threshold (maximum possible similarity is 1, which is equal to 100% of similarity). This will also mmake the result list more narrow/wide

Another very important issue is the term alloying element. It is not possible to define minimal values of different metals consisting an alloy for all cases. This needs an expert metallurgical background and practical knowledge from the field, and often these requirements are not available during the material identification. By using original expert reasoning module and patented SmartMetals technology, based on fuzzy sets and metallurgical expertise, SmartComp distinguishes important composition variations from the noise and trap elements and provides you with a list of possible matches, prioritized by similarity factors.For the practical purposes below is given the table of minimal values of steel elements above which they are treated as alloying, and as such could be included in the search.

Through the below examples some typical cases will be presented in order to help users.Example 1.The spectrometer will invariably pick up all chemical constituents of the material including all trap elements which should not theoretically be in the material composition. To help focus the search of SmartComp, you should insert only main alloying elements values. For example if the analysis provided is as below:C: 0.95% Si: 0.14% Mn: 0.33% P:0.012% S:0.015% Cr: 1.48% Al:0.001% Ni: 0.14% Mo: 0.01% Nb: 0.02% Ti: 0.002% V: 0.004% Co: 0.005% W: 0.01%; Ta: 0.01%The values inserted are the following:

Example 2.In case of analysis provided for a nonferrous material, e.g.

Cu: 58% Zn: 40.5% Mn: 2.76% Fe: 1.4% Ni: 0.82% Sn: 0.84% Pb:0.25%:The below search is suggested:

Using the lookup feature and hotlinks to the Total Materia Database you can click alloys from the list to immediately review their variations from the given composition, or go directly to the Total Materia Database to view detailed material properties.

Compared to Advanced Search, SmartComp is much better solution for finding materials based on chemical composition, because it does not simply use the maximum and minimum values and tries to find the solution by fitting all of them into result (as Advanced Search does), but does intelligent search based on material groups.On the other side, if maybe many elements are inserted into SmartComp search and the database does not contain material with all elements listed, the result will appear, because, as previously mentioned, it is a smart tool search that has metallurgical background and as such can recognize the similar materials although these similar materials do not contain all elements as the original request defined.

Example 1. The query submitted provided composition which mostly consisted of trace/residual elements. In case they are all inserted, the result list provided results differewnt then in case only main alloying elements were out (C and Ni)

Example 2.Elements ranges provided

So the mean value is inserted into the SmartComp, and even though, perhaps, not all elements contained in material are inserted, the program recognizes the material group based on main alloying elements, and based on that gives the results.

Compared to Advanced Search, SmartComp is much better solution for finding materials based on chemical composition, because it does not simply use the maximum and minimum values and tries to find the solution by fitting all of them into result (as Advanced Search does), but does intelligent search based on material groups.So the mean value is inserted into the SmartComp, and even though, perhaps, not all elements contained in material are inserted, the program recognizes the material group based on main alloying elements, and based on that gives the results.On the other side, if maybe many elements are inserted into SmartComp search and the database does not contain material with all elements listed, the result will appear, because, as previously mentioned, it is a smart tool search that has metallurgical background and as such can recognize the similar materials although these similar materials do not contain all elements as the original request defined.