Optical Microscopy
The optical microscope is equipped with an image analyses system and data base function. Therefore, the following microscopy techniques are possible:
- Clear field
- Dark field
- Nomarski interference contrast
- Polarised light
- Oblige illumination
The optical microscope can be used for general material characterisation, applied for, among other things:
- Metals (steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper, nickel based alloys etc.)
- Ceramics
- Cermets (Metallic matrix with ceramic particles)
- Plastics and (fiber) reinforced plastics
- Plastic composites
- Failure analysis:
- The determination of, for example, performed heat treatments, microstructure characteristics like elementary bodies and causes of tear initiations.
- The course of the damage, for example (intergranular) or (transgranular), see figure below.
- Materials advice
Stress corrosion cracking in AISI316L
