Course detail

Experimental Methods in Materials Engineering

FSI-WEMAcad. year: 2025/2026

Basic experimental methods for structural and phase analysis of metallic and nonmetallic materials. Attention is paid mainly to the study of microstructure using state-of-the-art imaging techniques of light and electron microscopy and analytical methods of phase analysis, chemical composition and physical properties of materias (X-ray analysis, spectroscopy, dilatometry, etc.).
Students are acquainted with evaluation of individual material parameters and characteristics in accordance with valid standards.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Lenka Klakurková, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Materials Science and Engineering (ÚMVI)

Entry knowledge

The study of the experimental methods used in the structure analysis (morphology and phase composition) of materials requires the basic knowledge of physics and mathematics on the level offered in the course of bachelor studies, and also knowledge of materials science and engineering – on the level of BSc at the least.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Exam: written and oral parts.
Awarding the course-unit credit is full and active participation in exercises and credit test.
Attendance at seminars is compulsory. Absence from seminars may be compensated for by the agreement with the teacher.

Aims

The course aims to provide students with an overview and fundamental theoretical principles of the most common methods used for complex engineering materials structural and phase analyzes in current engineering practice (physical principles of the methods, instrument parameters, application scope of the methods, etc.), inclusive of specimen preparation.
The knowledge of the principles and application potentials of the basic methods of structure and phase analysis, inclusive of procedures of taking and preparing specimens. Separate evaluation of structure components for all the kinds of materials under study, and assessment of the relations between the production technology, structure, and useful properties of materials.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

ASHBY, M. F a David R. H. (David Rayner Hunkin) JONES. Engineering materials: an introduction to their properties and applications. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1980, x, 278 s. : il. ISBN 0-08-026139-6. (EN)
ASM INTERNATIONAL. ASM handbook. Volume 9, Metallography and microstructures. Materials Park, Ohio: ASM International, 2004, xiii, 1184 s. : il., čb. a bar. fot., tabulky, grafy. ISBN 0-87170-706-3. (EN)
BHADESHIA, H. K. D. H. (Harshad Kumar Dharamshi Hansraj) a R. W. K. (Robert William Kerr) HONEYCOMBE. Steels: microstructure and properties. 3rd ed. Oxford ; Burlington: Butterworth-Heinemann ; Elsevier, 2006, xi, 344 s. : il. ISBN 0-7506-8084-9. (EN)
FLEWITT, P. E. J a Robert K WILD. Physical methods for materials characterisation. Bristol: Institute of Physics Publishing, 1994, xvi, 517 p. : il. ISBN 0-7503-0320-4. (EN)
GOLDSTEIN, I. Joseph. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. 3rd ed. New York: Kluwer, 2003, xix, 689 s. : il. + 1 CD-ROM. ISBN 0-306-47292-9. (EN)
GRUNDY, Philip James a Grenville Arthur JONES. Electron microscopy in the study of materials. London: Edward Arnold, 1976, 174 p. ISBN 0-7131-2522-5. (EN)
JONES, David R. H. a Michael F. ASHBY. Engineering Materials 1: An Introduction to Properties, Applications and Design. 4. Elsevier Science, 2011. ISBN 0080966659. (EN)
JONES, David R. H. a Michael F. ASHBY. Engineering Materials 2: An Introduction to Microstructures and Processing. 4. Elsevier Science, 2012. ISBN 0080966683. (EN)
LI, James C. M. (James Chen-Min). Microstructure and properties of materials. Singapore: World Scientific, 2000, xvi, 436 s. : il., čb. fot. ; 23 cm. ISBN 981-02-4180-1. (EN)
NĚMCOVÁ, Irena, Ludmila ČERMÁKOVÁ a Petr RYCHLOVSKÝ. Spektrometrické analytické metody I. 2. vyd. Praha: Karolinum, 2004, 166 s. ISBN 80-246-0776-X. (EN)
SKOČOVSKÝ, Petr a Tomáš PODRÁBSKÝ. Farebná metalografia zliatin železa. Žilina: Žilinská univerzita, 2001. ISBN 80-7100-911-3. (SK)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-ZSI-P Bachelor's

    specialization MTI , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Lenka Klakurková, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Fundamentals of light microscopy
- distribution, light sources, parameters, BF, DF, DIC, NIC, etc.
- advantages and disadvantages of individual sys., app. utilization
2. Materialographical samples preparation
- color metallography in practice (natural etching x color etching)
- evaluating metallographic specimens
3. Image analysis - evaluation of microstructural parameters
- advantages and disadvantages of using OA systems
- examples of OA utilization (phase quant., morphological ev., thickness meas., grain size, cast iron, micro-cleaning, etc.)
4. Introduction to electron microscopy TEM, REM, EBSD, FIB, etc.
- principle, function blocks, image creation, detected signals, signal properties, contrast types
- use of TEM, REM - typical applications, sample requirements LV SEM, ESEM)
- derived techniques, SEM / FIB
5. Microalysis of chemical comp. using EDS, WDS, EBSD, etc.
- local chemical and crystallographic an. tech. for SEM - overview
- qualitative and quantitative EDS / WDS analysis, ZAF / PhiRoZ corr.
6. X-ray structural analysis (description, use)
- X-rays, RTG radiation interactions with matter, X-ray diffraction
- X-ray diffraction methods
- qualitative and quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis - sample requirements, detection limits, typical applications, limiting measurement factors
7. Methods of spectroscopic chemical analysis
- overview - advantages, disadvantages, detection limits, ranges, use
- optical emission spectr. - division, phys. principle, instrumentation
- optical emission spectrometry with glow discharge
- inductively coupled plasma spectrometry + new directions
- at. absorption spectrometry - phys. principles, absorption meas.
- combustion analyzers - analysis of C, S, O, N, H in metallic materials
8. Dilatometry
- basic physical principle, sample requirements, det. limits, app.,
- practical measurement + evaluation
9. Evaluation of basic microstructural parameters I.
- determining the inclusion content (types, ASTM, ISO, DIN)
- grain size rating according to ČSN, ASTM and ISO
- metallographic evaluation of steel sheets and stripes ČSN 42 0469
- evaluation of the carbide phase according to SEP 1520
10. Evaluation of basic microstructural parameters II.
- evaluation of the carbide phase according to SEP 1520
- assessment of castings according to ISO, ČSN
- DAS and porosity evaluation
11. Hardness / Microhardness Measurement, Evaluation of layers after thermal or microhardness. chemical-heat treatment, evaluation of weld joints
- evaluation of layers: nitridation, cementation, defecation depth, etc.
- evaluation of the quality of welded joints based on macro and microstructure
- ČSN EN ISO 6520-1, ČSN EN ISO 5818, ČSN EN 1321
12. DSC (+ DTA)
- basic physical principle, sample requirements, detection limits, typical applications, limits
- practical measurement + evaluation
 13. Excursion - allied BUT aboratories visit

Laboratory exercise

27 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Lenka Klakurková, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1 Application of physical methods (dilatometry, resistivity, magnetometry)
2. Application of local chemical microanalysis in TEM and SEM (EDS and WDS)
3. X-ray phase analysis - demonstrations of applications, calculation parameters grids etc.,
4. The use of spectroscopic chemical analysis in practice - examples of applications
5. Introduction to Quantitative metallography, cast iron structure evaluation
6. Evaluation of defects formed blanks and castings, makročistota and Micro-purity materials - practical applications
7. Evaluation of microstructural parameters - practical applications
8. Determining the size of a grain of steels and nonferrous alloys using different methods and standards
9. Practical application evaluation microstructural parameters using the modules available image analysis (Olympus - StreamMotion)


Exercise

12 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Lenka Klakurková, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Preparation of samples for light and electron microscopy
2. Practical observation and evaluation structure of materials using the SM ( use of color contrast )
3. Examples use TEM ( substructure , defects, diffraction)
4. End-of-term test, awarding of credits.