Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
(OP)
Hi all,
I just took a position as a Materials Engineer in an R & D department that has mostly civil engineers (construction company). I have my bachelor's in chemistry and I am currently working on my Master's in Materials Engineering. My job is mainly going to deal with mounting steel samples and analyzing the microstructures of these samples. I was wondering what is the best place to start in order to start learning about all the different microstructures of steel and how to identify these regions under a microscope (free online references would be most helpful, but I'm open to anything). In addition, is there an ASTM standard for the preparation of samples so that I can follow this procedure when I setup the metallography lab? Can anyone walk me through the basic steps of preparing a sample, and can the mounting technique be applied for different parts other than steel bars i.e. a steel nail that has been fractured under tensile load? All the help is much appreciated! Thanks.
I just took a position as a Materials Engineer in an R & D department that has mostly civil engineers (construction company). I have my bachelor's in chemistry and I am currently working on my Master's in Materials Engineering. My job is mainly going to deal with mounting steel samples and analyzing the microstructures of these samples. I was wondering what is the best place to start in order to start learning about all the different microstructures of steel and how to identify these regions under a microscope (free online references would be most helpful, but I'm open to anything). In addition, is there an ASTM standard for the preparation of samples so that I can follow this procedure when I setup the metallography lab? Can anyone walk me through the basic steps of preparing a sample, and can the mounting technique be applied for different parts other than steel bars i.e. a steel nail that has been fractured under tensile load? All the help is much appreciated! Thanks.





RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
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"It's better to die standing than live your whole life on the knees" by Peter Mayle in his book A Good Year
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
http://www.asminternational.org/portal/site/www/As...
It can also be purchased from Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0871707063/ref=pd...
And it was edited by George Vander Voort.
Maui
www.EngineeringMetallurgy.com
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
If you are going to make your living doing metallography, microstructure evaluation , analysis, etc., then you need to get ASM HANDBOOK Volume 9. Buy it yourself if your employer won't. Having said that, there is an incredible amount of information available from George Vander Voort's website. Click on the various yellow boxes to be transported to the various sections of his website. Struers also has some excellent information (look for the Application Notes). The forum at metallography.com also has some useful information.
http://www.georgevandervoort.com/
http://www.struers.com/default.asp?top_id=5&ma...
http://www.metallography.com/
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
mdowns8357,you may find some free webinars by George
www.asminternational.org/webinars.
_____________________________________
"It's better to die standing than live your whole life on the knees" by Peter Mayle in his book A Good Year
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
Practice is going to be your main focus.
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Plymouth Tube
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
Regarding sample prep: ASTM publishes a book "Metallographic and Materialographic Specimen Preparation, Light Microscopy, Image Analysis and Hardness Testing" (copyright 2007) by Kay Geelsthat is exactly what you are asking for.
Finally, I would suggest obtaining ASTM Standards Volum 3.01, which includes metallography specs. Since you are setting up the lab, you also should obtain appropriate plates to hang on you wall for analysis (sold separately) for microcleanliness (ASTM E45) and grain size (ASTM E112).
Congratulations on your position, and good luck!
Aaron Tanzer
www.lehightesting.com
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
You should learn from someone, either a senior a tutor or a professor.
You can learn all the books of the world, but you cannot touch the deep unless you learn from somone. Or you willl learn by yourself...i.e the trial-error way.
For exampl, no book (at my knowledege) will ask you to go under microscope and sketch the microstructure you,re seeing, whichis the 1st basic of microstructure observation,
Let's not speak about polishing and all the tips. Etching and all the ways.
Good luck.
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
Aaron Tanzer
www.lehightesting.com
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
The OP says they are currently enrolled in school for a Master's in Materials Engineering. There has got to be something offered there that will be a better place to start. I agree books can be useful, but when you have the opportunity to be taught by someone with experience in the subject you're trying to learn, that should be the starting point.
Get the book, but start with school.
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
Aaron Tanzer
www.lehightesting.com
RE: Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?
I agree that there is no substitute for hands on practice. Vandervoort's metallography text from about 1985 has been my constant companion in the met lab.