The microscope as the most important tool
Metallography is a field of material science and literally means “metal description”. It was invented at the Lette Verein Berlin over 110 years ago, where it can still be learned today.
Develop new materials and make existing ones safer
Metallographers establish, for example, which material is right to build stable bridges or which metal is needed to construct motorcycles safely.
They mainly deal with the microstructure of materials and contribute to quality assurance. This also includes mechanical-technological and non-destructive material testing, material development, and research of high-quality materials as well as damage analysis. They are employed in the testing laboratories of industry, such as the automotive, aircraft, railway, micro-electronics, mechanical and turbine engineering industries, as well as in private and public research institutions. These include, for example, the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, the Helmholtz Institute, the Fraunhofer Society, the Max Planck Institute, as well as universities and colleges.
“The profession of metallographer is very interesting. You can help to develop new materials and make existing ones safer”, says Toni Vegaz Nguyen, who himself trained as a metallographer at the Lette Verein Berlin.
Toni explains what a metallographer does and why he needs microscopes for it.
Microscopes in metallography
Many metallographic analysis methods are defined according to international norms and standards. This applies, for example, to the determination of non-metallic inclusions (NMI) in steel or the determination of grain sizes and phases. A microscope system equipped with appropriate software modules enables precise and automated analysis of these parameters.
Gundula Jeschke, head of the department for metallography and materials testing at the Lette Verein Berlin, summarizes:
“We use high-quality microscopes in training, many of them are from ZEISS. This is the only way we can ensure that the best possible graduates enter the job market. In addition to individual support, our students also appreciate the modern facilities at the Lette Verein Berlin, so training is fun.”