Course detail

Experimental Methods in Materials Engineering I

FSI-WEXAcad. 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 microscopy
Students are acquainted with evaluation of individual material parameters and characteristics in accordance with valid standards.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

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

Brandon,D., Kaplan,W.D.: Microstructural Character.of Materials, Wiley, England, 2008, ISBN 978-0470027851.
ČMELÍK, Jiří, Pavlína HÁJKOVÁ a Petr KOUTNÍK. Pokročilé laboratorní metody. Ústí nad Labem: Univerzita Jana Evangelisty Purkyně, Fakulta životního prostředí, 2014. ISBN 978-80-7414-850-7.
Handbook of Analytical Methods for Materials: Materials Evaluation and Engineerint, Inc. MEE [online]. Plymouth, MN, 2001, 2001 [cit. 2018-03-18]. Dostupné z: https://www.mee-inc.com/hamm/
Metody charakterizace materiálů. Pardubice: Univerzita Pardubice, 2012. ISBN 978-80-7395-521-2.
SKOČOVSKÝ, Petr a Tomáš PODRÁBSKÝ. Farebná metalografia zliatin železa. Žilina: Žilinská univerzita, 2001. ISBN 80-7100-911-3.

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-ZSI-P Bachelor's

    specialization MTI , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 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. Hardness evaluation in technical practice
- survey of hardness measurement methods according to ČSN and ASTM standards
- advantages and disadvantages of individual methods
- measurement of hardness of layers and coatings according to ČSN and ASTM standards
- practical examples from technical practice

Laboratory exercise

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Lenka Klakurková, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Fundamentals of light microscopy (practical demonstrations and exercises)
- distribution, light sources, parameters, BF, DF, DIC, NIC, etc.
- advantages and disadvantages of individual sys., app. utilization
2. Materialographical samples preparation (practical demonstrations and exercises)
- color metallography in practice (natural etching x color etching)
- evaluating metallographic specimens
3. Image analysis - evaluation of microstructural parameters (practical demonstrations and exercises)
- 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. Hardness evaluation in technical practice (practical demonstrations and exercises)
- survey of hardness measurement methods according to ČSN and ASTM standards
- advantages and disadvantages of individual methods
- measurement of hardness of layers and coatings according to ČSN and ASTM standards
- practical examples from technical practice