Expert Committee

Materialography

Examining, analyzing, and documenting material microstructures and structures.

Sample preparation, microscopy, image data, and interpretation: Materialography connects the stages of microstructural and structural analysis.

Members404

Founded1968

UnitDGM e.V.

Chair

Dipl.-Ing. Michael Engstler
Saarland University
CV

Vice Chair

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Neidel
Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
CV

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Materialography covers methods used to examine the microstructure and structure of materials. It includes sample preparation, a range of microscopic techniques including electron microscopy and high-resolution X-ray computed tomography, and the analysis, evaluation, and documentation of results.

Through its working groups, the Expert Committee Materialography coordinates regular exchange among experts. Computer-aided data processing and evaluation are becoming increasingly relevant in this work.

01 · Methods

Methods in Materialography

Sample Preparation

Preparing Samples

Sample preparation procedures form part of the methodological spectrum of materialography.

Alongside examination and evaluation, preparation is part of investigating the microstructure and structure of materials.

Microscopy

Microscopic Techniques

Electron microscopy and high-resolution X-ray computed tomography extend the range of methods.

Materialography includes a variety of microscopic methods, including electron microscopy and high-resolution X-ray computed tomography.

Evaluation

Analyzing and Documenting Results

Examination data are analyzed, evaluated, and documented.

Analysis, evaluation, and documentation are part of materialographic examination, alongside sample preparation and microscopy techniques.

02 · Digitalization

Data, Image Analysis, and Modeling

Computer-aided data processing and evaluation play an increasingly important role in materialography. Digital and quantitative image analysis, together with machine learning, are among the digital topics relevant to the further development of the discipline.

Physical models for microstructure-property correlations are a further development area, as are the simulation of microstructure formation and the calculation of properties from microstructure.

03 · Committee Activities

Exchange, Conferences, and Qualification

Conferences

Metallography Conferences

The annual Metallography conferences are among the committee’s responsibilities.

The Expert Committee assumes organizational responsibility for the annual Metallography conferences.

Professional Exchange

Regular Exchange

Experts meet regularly to exchange views on materialography topics.

Through its working groups, the Expert Committee promotes and coordinates regular scientific and technical exchange among experts.

Qualification

Early-Career Support and Continuing Education

The committee supports early-career researchers as well as education and continuing professional development.

Supporting materialographers in education and professional practice is one of the Expert Committee’s objectives.

Materialography is closely connected to the development of materials. As materials are adapted to their conditions of use and new applications are opened up, the equipment and methods used for material characterization also need to evolve. The work ranges from sample preparation and microscopic techniques to the documentation of examination results.

The methodological spectrum includes high-resolution scanning electron microscopy with focused ion beam, atom probe tomography, 3D microscopy, digital image analysis, computer-controlled microscopes, and X-ray microscopy. Automated multiscale 3D microscopy remains an area for further development.

Other focal areas include models for microstructure-property correlations, simulation of microstructure formation, and the calculation of properties from microstructure. These fields require research projects on method development and interdisciplinary project teams that also incorporate IT expertise.