２月 Boundary between cast aluminum and gray cast iron

The trend of lightweight multi-material design (MMD) is becoming increasingly significant in the transportation sector, particularly in automotive applications. This trend is driven by the growing demands for sustainability, cost optimization, and performance enhancement. Multi-material design involves the strategic integration of different materials within a single component to meet specific technical requirements while enabling the production of economically efficient, lightweight parts. By leveraging the complementary properties of various materials, engineers can optimize the structural integrity, weight, and cost of vehicle components, leading to improved overall performance and resource efficiency.

Al/Fe bimetallic composites, as one of the multi-material series, offer a favorable combination of high strength and wear resistance from Fe (steel/cast iron) and high thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and lightweight properties from Al (aluminum alloys/ pure aluminum). This month, you will experience the metallographic preparation of these components, from cutting to fine polishing.

１月 2025 Additive manufactured Ti64 sample

The Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) alloy, also known as Titanium Grade 5, is one of the most used titanium alloys in additive manufacturing. It combines different properties like strength, lightness and corrosion resistance, making it attractive to a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive and medical. A major advantage of Ti64 additive manufacturing is its ability to produce customized implants for medical applications. Cutting the samples with a precision cutting machine such as the QCUT 200 A prevents the sample from overheating or being mechanically deformed during the cutting process. Mounting with an epoxy resin mounting material and using an infiltration device helps to fill all pores before grinding/polishing. Using the correct consumables during grinding/polishing can prevent smearing and makes the pore percentage measurement more accurate. This month you can find out all these important points in our preparation of the month.

３月 Cross-sectional microstructure of the solder joint in a Ball Grid Array after fine polishing.

５月 Microstructure of a laser weld seam on top of the copper pin in an electro motor after etching with waterbased solution of ferrinitrate 10%.

７月 Microstructure of a cast aluminium electrolytically etched with Barker etchant.

９月 Micro laser weld seam on a copper sheet after fine polishing.

１１月 Microstructure of an Al-Si alloy with primary silicon particles after fine polishing.