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April 2026 Structure of a nickel-based alloy etched with the etching agent V2A pickling agent
Every month, you can look forward to fascinating insights into the world of materialography! Find out more about our exciting preparations or get interesting tips and tricks from our experts.
Duplex steel is a stainless steel with a two-phase microstructure consisting of austenite and ferrite. It is frequently used in chemical plant construction, in the oil and gas industry, in the offshore sector and in tank and pipeline construction. Thanks to its high strength and excellent corrosion resistance, particularly against stress-corrosion cracking, it is suitable for demanding environments. Heat treatment is usually carried out by solution annealing at high temperatures followed by rapid quenching to ensure a balanced phase structure and prevent harmful precipitates. Metallographic examination of duplex steel is used to analyse its characteristic two-phase microstructure of austenite and ferrite. The aim is to evaluate the phase ratio (ideally around 50:50), the grain size and any possible precipitates or structural defects. After sampling, the sample is embedded, ground and polished to obtain a scratch-free surface. Suitable etching is used to make the phases visible with high contrast. The samples are then examined using light microscopy or scanning electron microscopy. Particular attention is paid to intermetallic phases such as sigma phase, as these can have a negative impact on corrosion resistance and toughness. Metallographic analysis is therefore an important part of quality assurance.
In this month's preparation report, you will learn how to prepare samples from duplex steel without metallographic artefacts.
Metallographic investigation of titanium alloys plays a central role in quality assurance. Precise preparation, etching and microscopic analysis allow reliable assessment of microstructure, grain sizes and possible defects. It is particularly important to identify phase transformations and structural irregularities that may influence mechanical properties. Metallography thus enables material deviations to be detected at an early stage, manufacturing processes to be optimized and the long-term reliability of safety-relevant components to be ensured.
In this month's preparation, you will learn how to prepare a titanium alloy without artefacts in just three steps.
Materialographic sample preparation is an essential step in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of geological and mineralogical samples. Whether you want to analyze rocks, ores, minerals, or fossils, you need a reliable and precise method to cut, mount, grind and polish your samples. With QATM equipment and consumables, you can optimize this process and achieve high-quality results.
In this report, we present some of our most important products and applications for materialographic sample preparation for geology and mineralogy. You will find a brief description of the features and benefits of our cutting machines, mounting systems and grinding and polishing machines, as well as some examples of typical samples that you can prepare with our equipment and consumables.
Duplex steel is a stainless steel with a two-phase microstructure consisting of austenite and ferrite. It is frequently used in chemical plant construction, in the oil and gas industry, in the offshore sector and in tank and pipeline construction. Thanks to its high strength and excellent corrosion resistance, particularly against stress-corrosion cracking, it is suitable for demanding environments. Heat treatment is usually carried out by solution annealing at high temperatures followed by rapid quenching to ensure a balanced phase structure and prevent harmful precipitates. Metallographic examination of duplex steel is used to analyse its characteristic two-phase microstructure of austenite and ferrite. The aim is to evaluate the phase ratio (ideally around 50:50), the grain size and any possible precipitates or structural defects. After sampling, the sample is embedded, ground and polished to obtain a scratch-free surface. Suitable etching is used to make the phases visible with high contrast. The samples are then examined using light microscopy or scanning electron microscopy. Particular attention is paid to intermetallic phases such as sigma phase, as these can have a negative impact on corrosion resistance and toughness. Metallographic analysis is therefore an important part of quality assurance.
In this month's preparation report, you will learn how to prepare samples from duplex steel without metallographic artefacts.
