Microstructural Analysis Quiz

Grain size in polycrystalline materials is important because many properties depend on it, such as mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity. Smaller grain sizes can result in improved properties.

Some of the techniques used for observing microstructural features in polycrystalline materials include optical microscopy, electron microscopy, field-ion microscopy, field emission microscopy, X-ray microscopy, and electro-probe microanalysis.

Optical microscopy is considered the most important technique because the equipment is relatively inexpensive and easy to handle, making it widely accessible for studying microstructural features.

<p>In order to observe the structure in an optical microscope, the specimen surface is polished and subsequently etched with appropriate reagents before microscopic examination. The etching delineates grain boundaries and allows different phases to be distinguished by differences in brightness of grains.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Differences in contrast in an optical microscope may result from differences in light absorption and can allow different phases to be distinguished by the brightness of grains.</p> Signup and view all the answers