What is Light Microscopy?
Identifying microstructure under a light microscope.
All materials have a microstructure. This is the fingerprint of the material. To identify key features of the microstructure, we mount a sample of the material in plastic resin, grind it down and polish it to a mirror surface finish. Then we treat the surface with chemicals before placing it under a light microscope. Our metallurgist can identify those key features that are significant to strength, corrosion resistance and general performance of the material.
How Can This Help You?
When parts have corroded, we are able to determine, by viewing the microstructure, how the corrosion occurred. Features such as stress corrosion, cracking or sensitisation that occurs in stainless steels can be identified. It is also possible to determine if case hardening has been done properly, by investingating microstructural changes.
The One Eighty Engineering Solution.
The wine tank manufacturer for a wine maker in Stellenbosch approached us. The reason for leaking tanks was unclear until we investigated the samples under the light microscope. We found that evidence of stress corrosion cracking was consistent on a number of the samples. This we associated with poor welding. The manufacture was able to make the right decision regarding the repair of the tanks, as well as alter the manufacture process for future orders.
|
