Materials Characterization

The physical properties of materials are mainly determined by their microstructure. Therefore, materials research depends strongly on efficient methods for qualitative and quantitative characterization of materials. The Materials Characterization Group of the Karl-Winnacker-Institut acts as a service centre for the investigation of materials properties, using sophisticated methods, such as metallography, electron microscopy, microanalytic and mechanical testing. Besides the research connected with the long-term projects of the different groups, the know-how is also used for short-term commissions from industry for materials and corrosion research and for damage assessment.

Tasks

• Microstructural and analytical materials characterization
• Testing of mechanical properties
• Investigations on corrosion resistance

Methods

• Chemical analysis
• Metallography
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS)
• Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) with wavelength dispersive X-ray spectrometry (WDS)
• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS)
• X-ray diffraction
• Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
• Creep testing
• Fatigue testing

Further information by email: schuetze