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Microstructure & Analysis Webinar Series
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Metallography of Light Metals
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 @ 12:00pm CST
This webinar will discuss the microstructures common to light metals including aluminum and magnesium alloys, common etchants, how etch selection effects what you see and how to select the right etchants for your needs.
This webinar will cover:
- Review fundamental principles of preparation of light metals
- Share recommended preparation routes
- Advise on common preparation problems
- Provide recommendations on etch selection
- Demonstrate microstructures typical of this material group
- Highlight common problems in processing and analysis
- Discuss key techniques to ensure success
- Include a live Questions and Answers session
Archived Webinars
View previous webinars from our Microstructure & Analysis Webinar Series
Metallography of Light Metals
Originally Recorded on: September 3, 2025
This webinar will discuss the microstructures common to light metals including aluminum and magnesium alloys, common etchants, how etch selection effects what you see and how to select the right etchants for your needs.
- Review fundamental principles of preparation of light metals
- Share recommended preparation routes
- Advise on common preparation problems
- Provide recommendations on etch selection
- Demonstrate microstructures typical of this material group
- Highlight common problems in processing and analysis
- Discuss key techniques to ensure success
- Include a live Questions and Answers session
What is Metallography?
Originally Recorded on: February 26, 2025
Metallography is the branch of science dealing with the study of the constitution and structure of metals and alloys, its control through processing, and its influence on properties and behavior. It is an important tool in industrial quality control and failure analysis, as well as the development of new materials, applications and components.
- How and why metallography is used
- Typical applications
- Examples of good metallographic process
- Potential consequences of poor processes
- An overview of metallographic principles
- Key techniques to ensure success
- A live Questions and Answers session
Selective Etching of Ferrous Materials
Originally Recorded on: December 4, 2024
This webinar will look at all the common and some uncommon etchants for the identification of ferrous microstructures.
- Compare the effectiveness of different etchants at showing common microstructural features
- Review approaches for identification and measurement of retained austenite
- Show examples of etching for prior austenite grain boundaries
- Show methods for identification of carbides by selective etching
Failure due to Manufacturing Problems
Originally Recorded on: September 11, 2024
Buehler provides regular webinars covering topics including Microstructure, Etching, Metallographic Preparation and Hardness Testing, as well as Analysis Methods. These webinars are always free, with the capability to attend on the day or watch after the event. This webinar will discuss metallography and its application to Failure Analysis. It will cover typical features, how to view them and how to identify them – using examples and case studies from real world applications.
- Ductile and brittle fracture surfaces and how to recognize them
- Fatigue fracture types
- Failure due to corrosion
- Failures caused by microstructural changes
- Failures due to embrittlement
- Highlight common problems
- Discuss key techniques to ensure success
- Including a live Questions and Answers session
What is Metallography?
Originally Recorded on: July 10, 2024
Metallography is the branch of science dealing with the study of the constitution and structure of metals and alloys, its control through processing, and its influence on properties and behavior. It is an important tool in industrial quality control and failure analysis, as well as the development of new materials, applications and components.
- How and why metallography is used
- Typical applications
- Examples of good metallographic process
- Potential consequences of poor processes
- An overview of metallographic principles
- Key techniques to ensure success
- A live Questions and Answers session
Microstructures of Hot and Cold Worked Metals and Alloys
Originally Recorded on: May 8, 2024
We have presented a wide variety of webinars looking at the microstructure of metals that have typically included both as cast and heat-treated microstructures. However, the process of deformation – or "working" the material - can greatly change the microstructure and is itself very important. This is especially true in manufacturing processes that do not include a heat treatment step after working. The effects of both cold-work and hot-work on the microstructure of a variety of different metals and alloys will be discussed.
- Definitions of hot and cold working
- Changes in microstructure
- Effect of various processing conditions
- Preparation and etching details
- Examples of typical processes and their effects
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