EN 10045 is a European standard series associated with Charpy impact testing of metallic materials. It is commonly referenced when a buyer, lab, or QA team needs impact toughness results (absorbed energy) from notched bar specimens under defined conditions.
If you need help aligning your test setup to the exact cited part/edition (and whether a newer replacement standard is required for your contract), talk with our team about your material, specimen size, and reporting requirements.
EN 10045 (series) — Metallic materials: Charpy impact test
EN 10045 is widely used as a short-hand designation for Charpy pendulum impact testing requirements on metals. In many purchasing and qualification documents, the citation points to the EN 10045-1 part that defines the core test method.
In several national adoptions, EN 10045-1 is listed as withdrawn and replaced by EN ISO 148-1 (Charpy pendulum impact test for metallic materials). When reviewing requirements, always work from the exact standard designation and edition stated on the drawing, material specification, or contract.
Quick definition
EN 10045 is associated with measuring the absorbed energy of a notched metallic test piece fractured by a swinging pendulum (Charpy impact). Results are typically used for material acceptance, comparative toughness checks, and temperature-dependent behavior screening.
What this standard covers
EN 10045 is focused on Charpy impact testing of metallic materials using notched bar specimens. When EN 10045-1 is cited, it is used as the test method reference for how impact energy is generated, measured, and reported.
What it does not do: Charpy impact energy is not the same as fracture toughness (KIC) or a full damage-tolerance analysis. It is typically used as a practical, standardized impact toughness indicator and/or a pass/fail acceptance criterion.
Why this standard matters in testing
Charpy impact requirements are frequently specified when service conditions may involve low temperatures, dynamic loading, or brittle fracture concerns. For many steels and welded constructions, Charpy testing is a common gate for procedure qualification, incoming material acceptance, or batch release.
From an equipment standpoint, the cited standard drives the need for the correct impact machine energy range, striker/anvil configuration, specimen notch preparation capability, and (when applicable) controlled specimen temperature conditioning.
Common materials, product types, or applications covered
EN 10045 Charpy impact testing is most commonly applied to metallic materials where impact toughness is specified as absorbed energy at a stated test temperature.
Common examples: Structural and pressure-retaining steels, alloy steels, weld procedure or weldment qualification programs, and metals intended for low-temperature service (when the requirement specifies testing at reduced temperature).
Common test or verification workflow
A typical EN 10045-style workflow centers on preparing notched specimens from product or qualification coupons, conditioning the specimens if a specific temperature is required, and performing pendulum impact breaks to obtain absorbed energy values.
Common workflow steps: Select sampling location and orientation (from the governing product/weld standard) → machine specimens to the required geometry → cut the required notch type (often V or U notch) → condition at the specified temperature when required → run impacts and record absorbed energy → report results in the format required by the purchasing document.
Equipment commonly used for this standard
EN 10045 Charpy testing typically points to a pendulum impact testing system and supporting tooling for specimen preparation and handling. Equipment configuration should be matched to the cited part/edition and the specimen/temperature requirements in the purchase or qualification document.
Common equipment: Charpy pendulum impact tester (appropriate energy capacity) with certified striker and anvil supports, specimen supports and positioning tools, and a method to verify machine performance per the applicable verification framework used by your lab.
Common accessories: Notch broaching or milling equipment for Charpy specimens, specimen marking/orientation tools, and temperature conditioning equipment (cold baths, environmental chambers, or transfer fixtures) when testing at sub-ambient temperatures is required.
If you are selecting an impact tester energy range, striker set, and notch-prep approach for your product mix, you can request pricing for a configured Charpy impact system matched to your lab’s specimen throughput and temperature needs.
How to read this designation or revision
In practice, requirements are often written as “EN 10045” even though the detailed method is typically tied to a specific part number (for example, EN 10045-1 for the test method). For procurement and compliance, the safest approach is to treat the part number and edition date as mandatory details.
Revision sensitivity: Machine setup, specimen geometry references, verification expectations, and reporting details can depend on the exact part and edition cited. When a document says “EN 10045” without a part/edition, confirm the intended reference with the customer or the controlling specification.
Related standards, methods, or frameworks
Many organizations now cite EN ISO 148-1 for Charpy pendulum impact testing of metallic materials. In addition, product standards for steels, castings, forgings, and welding qualifications commonly reference a Charpy method standard and then define the sampling plan, orientation, number of specimens, acceptance criteria, and test temperature.
Get help selecting the right Charpy impact setup
If you can share the exact callout from your drawing/specification (including any part number, edition date, specimen size, notch type, and test temperature), we can help align an impact tester configuration, striker/anvil tooling, and notch-prep approach to your workflow. To discuss options, contact our team.
