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Micro- and macrostructure studies are routinely carried out in the Metallurgy Laboratory of Bess MTI. Structural features requiring an optical microscope or a scanning electron microscope at magnifications greater than 100X are called microstructures. Some materials, such as metallic castings, have large grains that can be resolved with the naked eye. These structures are referred to as macrostructures.
The structure of a material is related to its composition, properties, and performance. The effect of grain size, inclusions, porosity, and segregation depend on the composition, and specific treatment during alloying.
Micro- and macrostructure analysis are performed to study the effect of temperature on materials, for example during heat treatment or welding. These techniques are mostly used in quality control, failure analysis and research studies.
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