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Application Notes
Struers Application Notes are designed to provide the staff of metallographic laboratories with concentrated and precise information about specific materials and their application. They are generously illustrated, easy to read and contain the following:- Production and applications
- Difficulties in the metallographic preparation
- Recommendations for the metallographic preparation, including Cutting, Mounting, Grinding and Polishing, Cleaning and Etching.
- Preparation method and structure interpretation
Check back here again for new information as we are continually developing new procedures and guides.
Please contact your local distributor if you would like the printed version of an Application Note. |
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Hardness Testing and Specimen Preparation
Hardness testing is a useful tool for the evaluation of materials, quality control of manufacturing processes and in research and development work. It gives an indication of a material’s properties, such as strength, ductility and wear resistance. This Application Note will focus on hardness testing of metals, the mechanical preparation of the specimens and the different parameters influencing the indentation hardness testing result. |
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Metallography of Welds
Today, a variety of different welding processes are available, such that welding is extensively used as a fabrication process for joining materials in a wide range of compositions, part shapes and sizes.
The application of good metallographic practices as applied to welded joints is outlined. An appropriate preparation method needs to be selected according to the physical properties of weld material(s). It is important that care is taken at all stages of the preparation process to obtain a correct analysis of the microstructure and properties in the weld region. |
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Metallographic preparation of copper and copper alloys
Due to its good formability, high electric and thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, pure copper is mainly used in electric engineering, the electronics industry and in the food and beverage industry. The metallography of copper and its alloys is used in quality control mainly for checking purity and grain size determination. In addition, cast alloys are examined for general structure evaluation. |
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Metallographic preparation of aluminium and aluminium alloys
Its low density, high strength and corrosion resistance make aluminium and its alloys the material of choice for many applications in, among others, the automobile, aircraft/aero space and packaging industry. Metallography is used in quality control for grain size determination, evaluation of phases, impurities and mechanical defects. |
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Metallographic preparation of nitrided and nitrocarburised components
Metallography of nitrided and nitrocarburised components is mainly used for controlling the nitriding process through examination of the layer. The white layer, diffusion zone and porous zone are measured and evaluated. In addition, failure analyses of used parts are carried out to see if faulty material, surface deterioration or the nitriding process were contributing factors. |
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Metallographic preparation of Cast iron
The term cast iron refers to those iron-carbon-silicon alloys which contain 2.5% - 4% carbon and usually 1-3% silicon. Cast iron is an important engineering material with a number of advantages, mainly good castability and machinability and moderate mechanical properties.
This Application Note describes the production and the materialographic preparation of this group of materials. |
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Metallographic preparation of High Alloy Tool Steels
An ever larger portion of high alloy tool steels are today made to fit customers' applications.
This requires the production of very clean material with very specific mechanical, physical and metallurgical properties. Metallographic inspection from the initial casting and first forming stages, to the final semi-finished, heat treated product, is an essential tool for controlling manufacturing and heat treatment processes. |
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Metallographic preparation of microelectronics
The miniaturization of electronic devices has been made possible by the development of integrated circuits, which have reduced the need for individual electronic components as building blocks of electronic circuits. Metallography plays a vital role in the design, development and failure analysis of chip-based components. The metallographic preparation of cross sections of these microelectronics is very time-consuming, and requires patience and skill to grind and polish to a specific target inside the component. |
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Metallographic preparation of fasteners
The challenge of metallographic preparation of fasteners is their geometry. Usually the cut has to go through the centre of the screw and as the head is a protruding part, it can be difficult to clamp a rivet or screw securely to make a cross sectional cut.
The problem with geometry also influences the mounting, as the curves of thread and head are spots where shrinkage of mounting resin can occur preferentially. This is particular crucial on coated material, because coatings can not be examined properly without good edge retention. |
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Metallographic preparation of zinc coatings
The metallography of galvanized products includes thickness measurements of the coatings, microstructure analysis of coatings and basemetal, adhesion checks and failure analysis. Depending on the galvanizing method, zinc coatings vary in hardness and thickness and therefore behave differently during metallographic preparation. In addition, some of the zinc coatings react with water, which makes the preparation particularly difficult. |
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Metallographic preparation of titanium
Titanium is a relatively new metal and expensive to produce, but its outstanding properties of high strength to weight ratio and excellent corrosion and heat resistance have made titanium and its alloys well established engineering materials. |
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Metallographic preparation of thermal spray coatings
Thermal spray coatings are widely used to give or improve a specific surface quality or function to a workpiece. Different spraying methods result in different characteristics of the coatings, and they are mainly applied for corrosion, heat and wear resistance.
Metallographic examination of spray coatings includes estimation of porosity, oxides and unmelted particles as well as adhesion to the substrate. |
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Preparation of ferrous metals for Electron Backscatter
Diffraction (EBSD) analysis
This Application Note focuses on the preparation of ferrous metals for the EBSD analysis and includes practical recommendations for the preparation of specimens and EBSD set-up. Various types of ferrous metals have been selected and the complete preparation processes used as well as an evaluation of the microstructure, microtextures and grains boundaries are described. |
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