The gorgeous inside stories of metal

Metallographers are considered the anatomists of metal who use a family of techniques for revealing the metallic microstructures that depict various inside stories. The metallographers then highlight different microstructural features which include metallic and mineral phases, grain sizes and shapes, and defects such as voids and slips using acidic etchants and other analysis-enhancing agents. Then the findings are recorded using camera-equipped microscopes with the help of optical techniques that can extract more anatomical details. Several behind-the-scenes metallographers around the world are applying their craft for quality control, materials analysis and certification, failure analysis, and related fundamental studies.