Day 1 - This course is the first from the set of 3

Introduction to Practical Metallography & Investigations

You will learn about the procedures and techniques which are required to undertake practical failure analysis investigations in a laboratory environment.

As this is a practical course, examinations on metal and alloy will be undertaken where you will:

• identify the importance of record keeping and sample identification

• conduct sample material for hardness testing

• use visual and macro examinations

• prepare a 'nick' fracture to carry out a test

• investigate the fracture appearance

• plan, prepare and produce microsections (Longitudinal and Transverse directions)

• investigate unetched samples to identifying key fractures

• examine a range of sample microsections/samples in etched state

• investigate key features including non-metallic inclusions, grain shape, size and distribution matrix classification

• Estimate the ASTM grain sizes

• Record key features

• Review the Thermal Equilibrium Diagram(s)

Day 2 - To attend this course, you must attend Day 1 first

Introduction to Heat Treatment: Anneal and Normalise

This second day course will revisit the samples from the first day and you will start to prepare these samples for heat treatment.

You will:

• identify the use of TED for materials supplied

• instructions on furnace use and safety considerations and conduct heat treatment procedures

• identify the time, temperature and transformation (TTT) for each material

• undertake Annealing and Normalising, consider the difference in TTT of different metals/alloys

• prepare a series of heat treatments which will change the materials structure and properties, along with the hardness of the material

• conduct Annealing and Normalising heat treatments

• prepare micro samples - longitudinal and transverse direction on two heat treatments

• conduct hardness tests on both of the heat-treated sample materials

• prepare, identify and analyse fracture tests

• investigate non-metallic inclusions, grain shape, size and distribution, matrix classification

• Compare with "as received" material, microstructure and hardness

• Investigate changes and establish the why

• Estimate the ASTM grain size

• Consider matrix classification and applications to the industrial usage/

Day 3 - To attend this course you must attend Days 1 and 2 first

Introduction to Heat Treatment: Quenching and Tempering

in this third day course you will investigate the role of various heat treatments on structure and hardness on the properties of materials.

You will:

• revisit the two samples from Days 1 and 2,

• prepare this material of heat treatment with appropriate identification,

• identify time, temperature and transformation (TTT) for each material and linking these to appropriate heat treatment data,

• investigate the fracture tests,

• follow best practice for recording identification,

• prepare a series of heat treatment tests that will change the structure and properties of the material, including hardness and establish the outcomes using industrial data,

• conduct heat treatment identifying and recording time, temperature, heating and cooling rates.

• identify time, temperature, heating and best cooling rates,

• conduct a Water Quenching procedure, making reference to appropriate technical data,

• conduct a Tempering after nine, referring to appropriate technical data,

• prepare macro/micro samples for examination of longitudinal and transverse direction,

• investigate and micro examine unetched and etched sample materials

• undertake hardness testing on both heat treated samples,

• compare the structure and properties with current data and industrial standards and with the 'original material as received' with Anneal and Normalise, Quench and Tempering,

• identify changes in metallographic features and compare with ASM Handbooks and other data,

• investigate structure and mechanical testing properties and user requirements,

• discuss and identify why heat treat,

• provide a simple charge of structure, properties and hardness.