SOUTHDAKOTASCHOOLOFMINESANDTECHNOLOGY.docVIP

Quantitative Metallography Laboratory Experiment #6 MET231 Laboratory This is a two-week laboratory. The first weeks lab is outlined at /My-files/labs/05Metallography06a.doc General Introduction to the Subject of Quantitative metallography Polished and etched samples will be quantitatively analyzed with respect to the microstructure of the material. Analysis of two-dimensional space allows the practicing metallurgical engineer to infer the three-dimensional morphology of the sample. Such analysis is referred to as quantitative metallography, or alternatively as quantitative Stereology. Quantitative analysis commonly involves determination of phase amounts and grain size. These parameters can directly affect the mechanical properties, especially the strength of the metal. Manual Quantitative Metallography Traditionally, the metallurgical engineer has relied on so-called manual methods to quantitatively determine the microstructure of a metal. Several manual methods are still commonly used in industrial settings. Chart Method The standard chart method involves viewing the sample while continuously referencing to a standard chart, which contains micrographs at the same magnification as the sample with varying percentages of the parameter(s) in question. This process allows the sample to be directly compared with standard samples and the most representative microstructure determined. This type of analysis is especially useful in process environments where large number of samples is routinely analyzed. In short, it is a quick inexpensive method of analysis. Counting Method Another manual method of quantitative metallography is direct measurement/counting of a metallographic parameter by the operator. This method is labor intensive and to a large degree has been supplanted by automated image analysis. A common example of manual quantitative metallography is grain size number, n, determination. The grain size number can be found from the eq