The continuing quest for increased product quality and reliability requires a more thorough testing of materials, which includes microstructural analysis. In addition, the analysis of increasing complex composites and advanced materials is challenging the adequacy of existing methods for specimen preparation. These two factors have created a demand for improved preparation and analysis techniques. Besides offering equipment and consumables for this purpose, Buehler offers training courses for individuals to obtain or improve their metallographic skills.

BUEHLER established the Institute for Microstructural Analysis in 1989, offering both general courses at an introductory level plus more specialized courses that focus on the needs of a specific industry or technology. All courses stress supervised hands on activities in the laboratory with just enough classroom instruction to help the students understand the basic principles. Courses are offered at the Buehler headquarters in Lake Bluff, IL as well as the University of Birmingham in Edgbaston and at Instron in High Wycombe, UK. In addition, workshops at various locations are organized through Buehler GmbH in Dusseldorf, Germany and the Buehler Asia-Pacific office in Hong Kong.

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Course Listing:

Please Select: Failure Analysis of Electronics 2008 Education Schedule (USA Only) 2008 ASM Courses (USA Only) 2008 Buehler UK Courses 2008 Buehler Asia Courses 2008 Buehler Germany Courses

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Metallographic Techniques for Medical Devices Due to the special challenges faced in the medical device industry, routine materials test methods do not work without modification or advanced techniques. The students of this class will prepare a variety of alloys commonly found in medical devices under the guidance of the instructor. Some manual preparation is required in order to understand the principles behind the process of developing semi-automatic preparation methods. The consistency and repeatability of preparation through semi-automatic specimen preparation is discussed and demonstrated on state-of-the-art equipment. After a lecture on etching techniques, and the optimal use of the metallograph, the structures of the materials are documented and entered into a laboratory notebook that is graded and returned to the students for future reference. Grain size determination, measurements and micro hardness indentation testing complete the course. Specific Materials Discussed: • CoCrMo   • Elgiloy • 316 L Stainless Steel   • CP Titanium • Ti 6Al 4V   • Zirconium • Tantalum   • Precious Metals Students are encouraged to bring their own specimens.   Who Should Attend? • Technicians • Metallographers • Engineers and QA personnel interested in hands on sample preparation     Required Prerequisites  None, but some knowledge of metallography is advantageous     Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, you should be able to: • Select proper consumables and techniques for sectioning, mounting, grinding, polishing • Choose the correct etchant to reveal the structure and features for the alloy at hand • Document structures using light optical microscopes equipped with image capture cameras and software • Distinguish artifacts from real structures • Apply quantitative metallographic techniques     Course Outline • Complete sample preparation: sectioning, mounting (cast and compression), grinding & polishing • Differences in techniques between manual and semiautomatic sample preparation • Use of chemical and electrolytic etching procedures • Use of the metallurgical microscope • Documentation of microstructures • Quantitative metallography – grain size and length measurements • Micro hardness testing demonstration Future Seminars Please check back for future schedule information. For more information and to receive updates on course dates, content, site and registration details, contact John Cerne at 800-336-5152 ext. 5637 or via e-mail at john.cerne@asminternational.org. Register today at http://www.asminternational.org/medcourses.