EXPERIMENT 1

STUDY OF METALLURGICAL MICROSCOPE

AIM:

To study the components and functions of a Metallurgical Microscope.

Optical microscopes are categorized on a structure basis according to the intended

purpose. An upright microscope (left photo) which observes a specimen (object to be
observed) from above is widely known as the most common type with a multitude of uses.
An inverted microscope (right photo) which observes a specimen from beneath is used for
observing the mineralogy and metallurgy specimens, etc.

DIAGRAM:
Microscope Basic Functions :An optical microscope consists of
the following two major basic functions. 1.Creating a Magnified
Image of a Specimen . 2.Illuminating a Specimen

Microscope Parts and Functions

1. Eyepiece: The eyepiece (sometimes called the 'ocular') is the lens of the microscopeclosest
to the eye that you look through. It is half of the magnification equation (eyepiece power
multiplied by objective power equals magnification), and magnifies the image made by the
objective lens. Sometimes called the virtual image. Eyepieces come in many different
powers. One can identify which power any given eyepiece is by the inscription on the
eyecup of the lens, such as "5x", "10x", or "15X". Oculars are also designed with different
angles of view; the most common is the wide field (W.F.).
2. Eyepiece Holder: This simply connects the eyepiece to the microscope body, usually
witha setscrew to allow the user to easily change the eyepiece to vary magnifying power.

3. Body: The main structural support of the microscope which connects the lens
apparatusto the base.

4. Nose Piece: This connects the objective lens to the microscope body. With a turret,
orrotating nosepiece as many as five objectives can be attached to create different powers
of magnification when rotated into position and used with the existing eyepiece.

5. Objective: The lens closest to the object being viewed which creates a magnified
imagein an area called the "primary image plane". This is the other half of the microscope
magnification equation (eyepiece power times objective power equals magnification).
Objective lenses have many designs and qualities which differ with each manufacturer.
Usually inscribed on the barrel of the objective lens is the magnification power and the
numerical aperture (a measure of the limit of resolution of the lens).

6. Focusing Mechanism: Adjustment knobs to allow coarse or fine (hundredths of

amillimeter) variations in the focusing of the stage or objective lens of the microscope.

7. Stage: The platform on which the prepared slide or object to be viewed is placed. A
slideis usually held in place by spring-loaded metal stage clips. More sophisticated
highpowered microscopes have mechanical stages which allow the viewer to smoothly
move the stage along the X (horizontal path) and Y (vertical path) axis. A mechanical
stage is a must for high-power observing.

8. Illumination Source: The means employed to light the object to be viewed. The
simplestis the illuminating mirror which reflects an ambient light source to light the
object. Many microscopes have an electrical light source for easier and more consistent
lighting. Generally electrical light sources are either tungsten or fluorescent, the
fluorescent being preferred because it operates at a cooler temperature. Most microscopes
illuminate from underneath, through the object, to the objective lens. On the other hand,
stereo microscopes use both top and bottom illumination.

9. Base: The bottom or stand upon which the entire microscope rests or is connected.

10.Photography unit with CMOS or CCD sensor able to make pictures via microscope.

TOOLS OF METALLURGIST:

Highly sophisticated and calibrated tools are available in the field of metallurgy. Metal
expansion thermometers, liquid expansion thermometers, vapour expansion
thermometers, resistance thermometer, thermo electric pyrometer, optical pyrometer,
thermo electric materials, radiation pyrometer, metallurgical microscopes are some among
them.The microstructure will reveal the mechanical and thermal treatment of the metal
and it may be possible to predict its expected behavior under a given set of conditions. A
microscope is employed to study the microstructure of material since the object is opaque it
is viewed under reflected light. In comparison with the biological type, the metallurgical
microscope differs in manner by which the specimen is illuminated. Since the object is
opaque, the sample must be illuminated by reflected light. As shown in figure, a horizontal
beam of light from some light source is reflected, by means of a plane-glass reflector,
downward through the microscope objective onto the surface of the specimen. Some of this
incident light reflected from the specimen surface will be magnified in passing through the
lower lens system, the objective and will continue upward through the plane-glass reflector
and be magnified again by the upper lens system, the eye piece. The initial magnifying power
of the objective and the eye piece is usually engraved on the lens mount. When a particular
combination of objective and eyepiece is used at the proper tube length, the total
magnification is equal to the product of magnifications of objective and eyepiece. It is
possible to mount a camera bellows above the eye piece and use the table type microscope
for photomicrography. The maximum magnification obtained with the optical microscope is
about 2000x. The principle illumination is the wave length of visible light, which limits the
resolution of fine detail in the metallographic specimen. The magnification may be extended
somewhat by the use of shorter wave length radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation, but the
sample preparation would include more techniques. The greatest advance in resolving power
electrons behave like light of very short wave length. The electron beam has associated with
it a wavelength nearly 100000 times smaller than the wave length of visible light, thus
increasing the resolving power tremendously. 3 The lenses of the electron microscope are the
powerful magnetic fields of the coils and the image is brought into focus by changing the
field strength of the coils while the coils remain in a fixed position. In optical microscope the
image is brought into focus by changing the lens spacing. Although the principle of electron
and optical microscopes are same, the former is large. The electron microscope is much larger
because of the highly regulated power supplies that are needed to produce and control the
electron beam. The entire system must be kept pumped to a high vacuum since air would
interfere with the motion of the electrons.

Result :
Thus the metallurigal microscope and its applications were studied successfully studies