Metallographic Examination

The microscopic study of the microstructure of metals and alloys. The details in the microstructure of metals and alloys hold the keys to understanding a material’s mechanical properties, such as strength, ductility, and environment resistance. These visual studies are used to examine the size and shape of metal and alloy grains, the various phases like ferrite and austenite in steel, the precipitates like carbide or nitride, and any existing microscopic flaws such as cracks or unwanted inclusions. Metallographic examinations may also provide details on other microscopic features created or changed by fabrication processes, such as casting, forging, machining, welding, heat treating, and coating, that need to be identified.