CASE STORIES AND ARTICLES

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.

Get inspired by case stories from our customers all over the world
Get detailed insight into specific materialographic topics
Explore research, findings and new methodology from around the materialographic world
Expand your knowledge and understanding of materialography

Introduction
Case stories
Articles
Meet our application specialists

Case stories

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.

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A cutting edge with space-age technology

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.

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Eliminating artifacts in high alloyed steel

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.

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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.

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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.

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Optimized quality tests reduce costs by 50 %

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.

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Preparation time reduced from 60 to 11 minutes

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.

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Articles

What is metallography?

In short, metallography can be defined as the science and art of studying the microstructure of different metals and metal alloys.

Read this article to understand the differences between metallography and materialography and how does that impact the choice of preparation methods?
We take a closer look at the history, the applications, and the analysis of both metallography and materialography.

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‘Can you prepare this for me real quick?’

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.

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Grain size determination on austenitic steels

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.

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New Metallurgy Insights In Automatic and Semi-automatic Grinding and Polishing

Read our brand new article with videos, top tips and step by step guide for grinding and polishing. This article demonstrates Struers three-step methods for Titanium and how to get quick accurate results.

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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.

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MEET THE APPLICATION SPECIALISTS

Based on years of experience from a wide variety of industries, the Struers Application Specialist Team enables our customers all over the world to discover new opportunities for enhancing quality control, failure analysis, and productivity. You can also depend on our Application Specialists to develop and pass on new applications and methods to help you meet evolving needs.