Microscopy Lab

In 2016 renovations were made to the Microscopy Lab. Carl Zeiss Microscopy donated a series of microscopes to enhance education coursework in failure analysis, electron microscopy, and microstructure interpretation. The equipment includes an inverted and an upright light microscope, a digital microscope, and an EVO LS15 scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM utilizes a lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) filament and is coupled with a Bruker energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) for fast elemental mapping and non-metallic inclusion analysis.

Shuttle & Find software and a correlative sample holder make finding regions of interest on each kind of Zeiss microscope possible, offering fuller stories of a sample. The light microscopes have expanded to include macroscopes as well as inverted and upright light microscopes equipped with digital cameras from Lecia, Nikon, and Olympus. After preparing a sample in the metallography lab, microstructures can be examined in bright field, dark field, polarized light, and differential interference contrast (DIC).

During a metallography education course, the microscopes are used to teach basic operation, obtain quality photomicrographs, and how to utilize quantitative image analysis software, like grain sizing and counting porosity. A Clemex CMT automated hardness tester also includes measurement tools for phases, layer thickness, grain size, particle size, and inclusions.

In-depth microstructure study that explores the different uses of the light microscope in metallography can be seen in Practical Interpretation of Microstructures and Metallography for Failure Analysis. Courses on fractography and how the SEM can be used for failure analysis include Fractography and Practical Fractography. For information on our education courses, please visit asminternational.org/exploreeducation.

The Microscopy Lab is equipped with the following:

Take a tour of the Microscopy Lab at ASM International World Headquarters!