The Metallography Laboratory at the Vehicle,
Fuel, and Environment Research Institute, University of Tehran, is equipped
with advanced instruments to analyze the microstructure and properties of
metallic materials and alloys. This laboratory plays a crucial role in material
quality assessment, identification of metallurgical defects, optimization of
manufacturing processes, and enhancement of component durability.
Metallographic studies are essential for
various industries, including automotive, energy, aerospace, and advanced
equipment manufacturing, contributing to improved performance and reliability
of products.
Laboratory Equipment
Hydraulic Cutter
This device is used for cutting samples to the desired sizes for metallographic analysis and other laboratory tests.
Hot Mounting Machines
These machines are used for sample preparation in metallographic testing and microstructural analysis of studied components. They can mount samples with diameters of up to 45 mm.
Cold Mounting
In certain cases, due to the size of the samples and limitations associated with hot mounting, the cold mounting technique is employed for sample preparation.
Grinding and Polishing Machine
This machine is used to prepare mounted samples for microstructural analysis by ensuring a high-quality surface finish, which is essential for accurate examination.
Fume Hood
All solution preparation and etching processes for metallographic analysis are carried out under the fume hood due to the toxic nature of some chemical solutions.
Hot Plate
This device is used to prepare homogeneous and uniform solutions for various laboratory applications.
Optical Microscope
After sample preparation and etching, this device is used for examining and analyzing the microstructure of materials.
Laboratory Capabilities
Solution Preparation
For microstructural analysis, various chemical solutions are required. In this laboratory, solution preparation is carried out with the highest quality standards.
Microscopic Data Analysis Using Software
To examine the microstructure of materials and analyze microscopic images, specialized image analysis software is used. Some of the key features of the software utilized in this laboratory are detailed in the following sections.
Coating Thickness Measurement
This software enables the measurement of coating thickness and the analysis of its distribution across the sample.
Grain Size Determination
The software allows for grain size measurement using ASTM E112 standard methods.
Phase Fraction Determination
This software enables the measurement of phase fractions in a material.
Phase Size, Sphericity, and Morphology Analysis
This software allows for the measurement of phase size, sphericity, and morphological characteristics of different phases in the material.
Defect Size Measurement
This software enables the measurement and analysis of defect sizes in components.
Cast Iron Grading
This software allows for the classification and grading of cast iron based on its microstructural characteristics.
