Delve into the world of materialography with various case stories and articles. Here, our customers and materialographic application experts share their challenges, solutions, and results on different topics.
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Explore research, findings and new methodology from around the materialographic world
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Increasing throughput with Struers hardness testing solution
Materials testing laboratory, MechTest wanted to increase their throughput of customer samples with a faster and more consistent process in weld examination and hardness testing. With their new automated and standardized Struers solution they create a better service for their clients.
When the European Space Agency is planning a launch, the team at Modis International check the materials. The components are complex, and Modis is keen to work with the latest methods and equipment. Following an advanced training course with Struers, Modis introduced new streamlined processes that save valuable time when working with complex components.
High alloyed steel producer Uddeholm was facing a stiff challenge: How to eliminate halfmoon-shaped scratches in its samples. Uddeholm’s solution? Three employees signed up for a Struers training course to improve their skills. Today, the scratches are gone and Uddeholm has optimized its preparation methods.
How Robert Bosch SRL increased hidden-target precision to within 5 µm
The automotive electronics division of Robert Bosch in Romania was looking for a way to increase precision when preparing very small hidden targets in microelectronic boards. Our solution not only increased precision to within 5 µm, but also cut preparation time in half and reduced consumables consumption.
The perfect precision cut on complex turbine components
Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery prepares turbine components for materialographic analysis. The parts are often small and uneven, with additive manufactured components, making them very tricky to clamp and cut. Siemens wanted a cutting machine that was precise, fast and efficient – and gave them unlimited clamping options. Our solution was the Secotom-60 precision cutting machine.
Time plays a vital role within the production process at CIE Praga Louny, a.s., that produces mainly machine parts. And After installing an additional new production line, they wanted a more efficient method for quality testing the hardening of produced flanges. In cooperation with Struers, the company developed a new sectioning process that increased feed speed by 50 %, reduced costs by 50 %, and increased cut-off wheel lifetime three times.
Swedish Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery AB had trouble preparing a new material, titanium. The preparation time was far too long, and the titanium surface was full of scratches. Discover the new method they learned at the Struers TPM course which resulted in what a highly experienced colleague called the best samples he had ever seen.
Electrolytic preparation offers a range of benefits compared to mechanical preparation, not least a shortened preparation time and virtually deformation-free material removal, especially in soft and tough materials. But it has drawbacks, too. So, when is electrolytic preparation most effective?
In this article, the results of a Round Robin Test, done by working group “Sample Preparation” of German Materials Society, involving 10 different labs to assess the drawbacks and benefits of electrolytic preparation, giving detailed recommendations for certain materials in comparison to mechanical preparation. It’s a must-read for labs that are considering electrolytic preparation as a way to meet fast turnaround times.
Hardness testing and microscopic evaluation of carbidic HVOF spray coatings
Carbidic coatings are used as wear protection in certain industries – and hardness is a key indicator of coating quality. But what is an acceptable hardness fluctuation range and what causes fluctuations when hardness testing HVOF (high velocity oxygen fuel) spray coatings?
In this article, the results of a Round Robin Test, done by working group “Sample Preparation” of German Materials Society, involving 19 companies and institutes to determine the potential hardness fluctuation range of carbidic HVOF spray coatings. The article describes the preparation and methods and microscopic evaluation in detail, giving you a clear methodology and indicator of acceptable hardness fluctuations.
Grain size is a key parameter in materials technology. But automatic determination of grain size in high-alloy austenitic steels can be tricky due to twinning and other specific problems caused by materials properties.
This article outlines the results of a Round Robin Test, done by working group “Sample Preparation” of German Materials Society. It shows the possibilities when preparing corrosion resistant austenitic steels for grain size measurements, using mechanical and electrolytical preparation methods, and illuminates contrasting by chemical and electrolytical etching.
