In each application note, you learn:
Due to their corrosion resistance and superior surface finish, stainless steels play a major part in the aircraft, chemical, medical and food industries, in professional kitchens, architecture and even jewelry. They are prone to mechanical deformation and scratching during metallographic preparation – and require a specific preparation method to ensure reproducible results.
Titanium is a relatively new and expensive metal. However, its high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent corrosion and heat resistance have made titanium and its alloys well-established engineering materials. It is widely used in the aerospace, aircraft, chemical and medical industries, where safety is essential. Consequently, quality control of titanium production and processing is extremely important.
Metallic materials are assessed by their inner structure – known as the grain structure – in addition to a wide range of other chemical and physical properties. The grain structure is typically adapted to the technical application of the material and can be viewed with a conventional light microscope. How can you best prepare a sample for microscopy analysis and interpret the results?
Low density, high strength and corrosion resistant, aluminum is the material of choice for many applications in the automobile, aircraft, aerospace, packaging and other industries. Metallography is used in quality control to determine the material’s grain size and evaluate phases, impurities and mechanical defects.
A nitrided layer is hard and wear resistant with significantly improved fatigue strength and corrosion resistance from the nitriding process. On nitrided and nitrocarburized components, metallography is mainly used to control the quality of the thermochemical nitriding process during fabrication and for analysis of failed components.
Due to its good formability, high electric and thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, pure copper is mainly used in electric engineering and the food and beverage industries. The metallography of copper and its alloys is used in quality control – mainly for checking purity and determining grain size – while cast alloys are examined to assess the general structure of the alloy.
The term cast iron refers to iron-carbon-silicone alloys containing 2.5-4.0 % carbon and, usually, 1.0-3.0 % silicon. Cast iron is an important engineering metal, with a number of advantages – mainly good castability and machinability – and moderate mechanical properties.
The metallographic preparation of fasteners, such as screws, has a specific challenge: geometry. The fastener usually has to be cut through the center, and it can be a challenge to clamp a specimen securely. Additionally, the curves of the thread and head can result in preferential shrinking of the mounting resin. This is particularly problematic on coated materials, as coatings cannot be examined properly without good edge retention.
Powder metallurgy technology is an important method of manufacturing metal parts. The density of a compacted and sintered part affects its strength, ductility and hardness. Therefore, metallographic control of porosity is an integral part of quality control in many industries. To obtain a true representation of the structure of powder metallurgy parts, a thorough preparation method is required, with microscopic checks between polishing steps.
The miniaturization of electronics devices has been made possible by the development of integrated circuits and chip-based components. Materialography plays a vital role in the design, development and failure analysis of these components in many industries. It is also used for spot checks during production. As the components are very small, special materialographic preparation techniques and equipment are required.
Metallic zinc is used for corrosion protection of cast irons, mild steels and low-alloy steels. The metallography of galvanized products includes measuring coating thickness, microstructure analysis, base metal adhesion checks and failure analysis. Depending on the galvanizing method, zinc coatings behave differently during metallographic preparation, which makes selecting the correct method essential.
Thermal spray coatings are widely used to give a material a specific surface quality or function, such as corrosion, heat or wear resistance. Materialographic examination of spray coatings includes an estimation of porosity, oxides and unmelted particles, as well as adhesion to the substrate.
High-alloy tool steels require the production of a very clean material with specific mechanical, physical and metallurgical properties. Metallographic inspection, from the initial casting stage to the final heat-treated product, is an essential tool for controlling the manufacturing and heat treatment processes.
Based on years of experience from a wide variety of industries, the Struers Application Specialist Team enables our customers all over the world to discover new opportunities for enhancing quality control, failure analysis, and productivity. You can also depend on our Application Specialists to develop and pass on new applications and methods to help you meet evolving needs.
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