Metallographic analysis involves examining a material's microstructure to identify phases, grain size, inclusions, or defects that may have contributed to its failure. It provides insights into the material’s history and how it was processed.
SEM is widely used in failure analysis to examine the fracture surface of a failed component in detail. It helps in identifying fracture patterns, such as brittle or ductile fractures, fatigue striations, and crack initiation points.
The main objective of failure analysis is to investigate why a material or component failed and to provide recommendations to prevent similar failures in the future. It helps improve material performance and system reliability.
Fatigue failure occurs when a material is subjected to repeated cyclic stresses over time, even if those stresses are below the material’s yield strength. It is the most common form of failure in mechanical components subjected to long-term loading.
Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) occurs when a material is exposed to a corrosive environment and subjected to tensile stress. Both factors work together to initiate and propagate cracks, leading to failure.
