Metallurgical Microscopes
Metallurgical microscopes, also known as metallographic microscopes or metallurgy microscopes, are specialised optical instruments designed for the examination and analysis of opaque materials, particularly metals and alloys. They are commonly used in materials science, metallurgy, quality control, and research to inspect the microstructure and properties of metallic samples.
Metallurgical microscopes are versatile tools with features including dual incident and transmitted light, high magnification for detailed analysis, polarisation for stress patterns, darkfield illumination for contrast, and long working distance objectives. They are used in quality control, research, education, forensic analysis, and industrial applications to examine metal structures and ensure material performance and integrity.
There are three main types of metallurgical microscope:
Upright Microscopes
Where the objectives are above the specimen – this is the most commonly used type
Inverted Microscopes
Where the objectives are beneath the specimen, permitting larger specimens to be observed
Semiconductor
(upright and inverted) where the stage is especially large to accommodate whole wafers
