Metallurgy and materials characterisation involves the analysis of the microscopic structure, composition, and physical properties of metals and alloys to determine their behaviour, quality, and performance. Drawing upon materials science, these tests cover a wide range of techniques such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and spectroscopy, which are critical for failure and materials analysis to develop new engineering materials.
Understanding the relationship between microstructure, processing, and material structure and properties (e.g., strength, ductility, corrosion resistance) is important for industries such as aerospace, automotive, and energy, particularly when studying alloys and additive manufacturing.
Common Characterisation Techniques
Techniques for characterising materials include:
- Microscopy Methods: Optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), which are used to visualise grain structure, defects, and surface topology. These methods use specific equipment such as electron microscopes to deliver a beam of electrons to analyse material microstructure, composition, and surface topography up to atomic-level resolution.
- Spectroscopy and Diffraction: X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) are used to determine crystal structure and chemical composition.
- Mechanical and Thermal Testing: Hardness testing, tensile testing, and thermal analysis (DSC, dilatometry) measure performance under stress and temperature.
- Metallography: Sample preparation including cutting, mounting, polishing, and etching to reveal material microstructures.