Quantitative microscopy of high temperature materials PDF

ABSTRACT

The origins of quantitative microscopy and its importance in the development of relationships between microstructure and the mechanical properties of materials are discussed in this paper. Initially, a brief history of Henry Clifton Sorby's development of the science of optical metallography and its evolution from the fields of mineralogy and petrology is described together with Richard Beck's invention of a vertical illuminator which enabled opaque objects to be observed at high magnifications in the optical microscope. Sorby's subsequent discovery and measurement of lamella spacing in pearlitic structures in steels in 1885 is also discussed, this being the first known recorded example of quantitative metallography. In addition further quantitative metallographic studies are described, which over the following 50 years, led to an increasing understanding of the effects of composition and heat treatment in controlling microstructure as well as relationships between microstructures and the mechanical properties of both ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. In particular, emphasis is given to the ongoing importance of specification and control of chemical composition and heat treatment of materials in order to achieve the required microstructure and mechanical properties for particular service applications.

Edited by: A. Strang, J. Cawley