Metallography and Characterisation

The properties of materials and components are largely influenced by their microstructure and chemical composition. Knowledge of the microstructure, such as grain size, grain orientation, grain boundaries, precipitations, inclusions, pores and cracks, allows for predictions about the mechanical properties, heat treatment conditions or failure mechanisms.

Compositions of the corrosion products or oxide layers provide information about the process conditions and, if applicable, the failure mechanism. A combined investigation of the microstructure and the chemical composition of a material is often useful to obtain a complete picture of the failure case.

At the DECHEMA Corrosion Center we have an experienced metallography department for the optimal preparation of your materials for the subsequent microstructural analysis by means of high-resolution scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron probe microanalysis or Raman spectroscopy.