Metallography

Aloys Beck von Widmanstatton discovered that meteorites, when cut and polished exhibited a characteristic structure when oxidised by heating in air. Later he was to use Nitric acid to reveal a microstructure still referred to as Widmanstatton.

In the 1860s Prof Henry Sorby of Sheffield developed a technique for metal examination using a microscope. Prof Sorby was the father of microscopical metallography and produced excellent work.

This led him to study meteorites and meteoric iron and then to the microscopical examination of modern manufactured iron and steel, a very appropriate study in Sheffield. In 1863 he again pioneered a new field of study, that of "Microscopic Metallurgy" which is now an accepted part of modern metallurgy.

The ability to study material microstructure allows for an understanding of the material characteristics and then perform comparisons of properties to requirements and specifications.

Metallography can be used with other testing techniques for the quality control of product integrity and the investigation of failures to assist in the improved  design of components.