Good Place to Start for Examining Microstructures?

[mdowns8357]

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.

 

[arunmrao]

ASM expert George Vandervoort ,is a very popular instructor. You could benefit attending them.

_____________________________________
"It's better to die standing than live your whole life on the knees" by Peter Mayle in his book A Good Year

 

[Maui]

You will be hard pressed to find a better reference than ASM International's Metals Handbook Volume 9 entitled Metallography and Microstructures:

http://www.asminternational.org/portal/site/

http://www/AsmStore/ProductDetails/?vgnextoid=ff2f2b41ce0f8110VgnVCM100000701e010aRCRD

It can also be purchased from Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/08..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1CF7F0NA0JHSFFV06265

And it was edited by George Vander Voort.

Maui

http://www.EngineeringMetallurgy.com

 

[TVP]

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?...=110&target=_self&admin_language=2&collapse=1

http://www.metallography.com/

 

[arunmrao]

George's name is synonymous with Metallography.I understand that he is now with Struers and yet another victim of merciless downsizing by MBAs.

mdowns8357,you may find some free webinars by George

http://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

 

[mdowns8357]

Thanks for all the help guys. Just purchase ASM volume 9 and my employer is paying for it. Also I will check out the free information provided by George Vander Voort soon. Thanks again!

 

[EdStainless]

Contact sales reps from Bueler and Struers. At least pretend that you are interested in buying equipment. Visit their facilities, sometimes the will do training courses (sometimes they host the ASM course).
Practice is going to be your main focus.

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Plymouth Tube

 

[macmet]

You could also look into taking an undergrad materials engineering course at whatever school you're doing your master's at. I did my undergrad in matls and there were a number of courses where all I did was look at microstructures. In many of those courses we also had grad students in them as well. You might be able to take them and get a credit towards your master's at the same time.

 

[mrfailure]

I also recommend purchasing Volume 9, but I personally find the previous volume (copyright 1985; at one time this was part of the 9th edition of ASM Handbook)) to be more useful simply because it is better organized and has great examples and logic for microstructures shown. I also sometime use an even older version from the 8th edition (it was Volume 7 then, copyright 1972 - it came with a blue cover). These volumes are worth purchaing used off Amazon or such and having in your personal collection.

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

http://www.lehightesting.com

 

[Zinov]

I will not agree that with books only you will be good enough.
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.

 

[karlmet]

I believe Buehler & Struers both do materials preparation & basic microscopy courses but I wouldn't have thought they will manage to even touch on the basics of micorstructures in a course lasting just a few days!

 

[mrfailure]

Any sketches I would ever try to make of microstructures would be Picasso-esque. I hope your metallograph instead has a camera attached!

Aaron Tanzer

http://www.lehightesting.com

 

[macmet]

I agree with Zinov.

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.

 

[mrfailure]

I agree that getting practice some hands-on experience will be a great help. ASM offers several hands-on courses in this regard including a 4-day Metallographic Techniques course and a 4-day Practical Interpretation of Microstructures course. These courses are held periodically either at the Materials Park OH lab or at outside private labs. The 2 courses I mentioned are being offered next in September. These also will give you an opportunity to interact with experienced metallographers for their tricks of the trade.

Aaron Tanzer

http://www.lehightesting.com

 

[Guest102023]

There are a couple of exhaustive texts by Leonard Samuels, one of which has a lot of information of steel metallurgy.

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.