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02/28/2006 -
Analytical Characterization of Aluminum, Steel, and Superalloys (2005)
edited by D. Scott MacKenzie and George E. Totten
ISBN 0-8247-5843-9. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. 2005. Hardcover. 768 pages. $159.95.
Comprehensive evaluations of the structures and properties of materials enable materials scientists and engineers to develop materials with optimized microstructures and properties. Analytical Characterization of Aluminum, Steel, and Superalloys, edited by D.S. MacKenzie and G.E. Totten, provides an overview of conventional and advanced methods for evaluating and characterizing the microstructures and properties of metals and alloys. Written as a companion guide to handbooks, textbooks, and monographs, this text provides the reader with general overviews of several advanced characterization techniques and details their application to commercial aluminum-based, iron-based, and nickel-based alloys. This text is divided into 16 chapters, each written by top researchers and experts in their respective fields of study. Stylistically, most of the chapters begin with general overviews of the technique of interest, followed by specific examples of their application to commercial alloys. As such, the reader receives a short refresher on each characterization technique and is rapidly treated to practical examples of their utility. The chapters are adequately referenced for those desiring or requiring additional technical details. This text, though not all inclusive, could be of great benefit to practicing engineers and scientists. It will not replace more detailed references, such as Volumes 9 and 10 of the ASM Handbook series, Vander Voort's Metallography: Principles and Practice, or Durand-Charre's The Microstructures of Steels and Cast Irons and Microstructures of Superalloys. However, it does complement them nicely.
The book begins with a general overview of metallography. Detailed in this chapter are proper specimen preparation techniques and tips for etching and observing prepared metallographic mounts. Though it is focused on ferrous alloys, the general principles discussed in this chapter are applicable to other materials. A nice addition to this chapter is a detailed list of micro- and macro-etchants for ferrous alloys and descriptions of the pros and cons of each. As the goal of this text is to provide a synopsis of characterization techniques rather than providing an experimental guide, this chapter accomplishes its goal nicely. Considering that the title of the text implies that it will provide equal coverage to the characterization of aluminum-based alloys, iron-based alloys, and superalloys, it would have been nice to include details for aluminum and superalloys systems. However, such an inclusion would likely have increased the size of the text two-fold.
The initial chapter is followed by three atlases of micrographs for aluminun-based, iron-based, and superalloy systems. This is perhaps the highlight of the text. Chapters 2 and 3, which focus on iron-based and aluminum-based alloys, respectively, contain more than 400 original micrographs encompassing all classes of commercial alloys. Each chapter begins with a general description of the primary chemical constituents and major microstructural features for each alloy class. The introductions are then followed by micrographs illustrating the phase morphologies in each system before and after commercial processing and heat-treatment steps. These two libraries, which represent perhaps the most comprehensive collection of micrographs available in print, complement the collections included in the ASM Handbook and would be a valuable addition to anyone's library. Chapter 4 contains more than 150 micrographs of superalloys. The micrographs, which were collected from a variety of sources, nicely complement those included in Volume 9 of the ASM Handbook andDurand-Charre's Microstructures of Superalloys; however the microstructures of single crystals and non nickel-based superalloys are generally not included. This chapter would have benefited from a general introduction similar to the ones included in Chapters 2 and 3.
Chapters 6 through 15 provide a general overview of thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, residual stress measurement, and advanced microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. The majority of these chapters focus on aluminum alloys; however, the general techniques are applicable to all varieties of materials. Chapters 9, 10, and 11, which address transmission-electron microscopy (TEM), electron-backscattered diffraction (EBSD), and texture measurement and analysis are particularly good. Chapter 9 on TEM provides a comprehensive yet condensed overview of the entire process culminating in examples of the application of TEM characterization techniques to each class of materials. Chapters 10 and 11 provide a complete history of the development of the EBSD technique and its application to aluminum-based alloys. Chapter 11 also does a nice job of tying the EBSD technique to more macroscopic texture measurements obtained via x-ray techniques. The book ends with equally thorough overviews of atom probe tomography, electron momentum spectroscopy, positron annihilation, and image analysis techniques.
The text does a nice job of detailing various experimental methods and providing examples of their application on commercial alloys. As it is written, it is a nice reference for the practicing scientist or engineer. In particular, the atlas of microstructures for aluminum-based and iron-based alloys will prove to be a valuable addition to any engineering laboratory. If there is a deficiency, it is that most of the chapters focus on aluminum-based alloys and do not provide enough general information for those working in other alloy systems. The superalloy metallurgist will still need to access other resources.
Despite the deficiency noted above, I still recommend this reference for practicing engineers and scientists who require general overviews of common characterization techniques and illustrations of what information they can obtain from those techniques. I also recommend it for the outstanding atlas of microstructures provided for aluminum- and iron-based alloys. However, practicing engineers may still wish to consult more comprehensive references.
For more on Analytical Characterization of Aluminum, Steel, and Superalloys, visit the Taylor & Francis/CRC Press web site. |
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