Light Microscopy 

MEE has a variety of light microscopes with magnifications ranging from 5X to 2400X. Each microscope is connected to a camera with digital image capture for subsequent measurements and/or additional image analyses.  

Keyence Digital Light Microscope

Light microscopy is one of the most commonly performed functions in a metallurgical laboratory. MEE has a light microscope for almost any task, with magnifications ranging from 5X to 2400X.

Low magnification imaging is commonly used for observation of small samples or fine external specimen features. Several of the optical light microscopes at MEE are equipped with digital cameras for recording and measuring features of interest from the microscopic examination. The Keyence VHX-1000 digital light microscope can also provide 3D surface profiling and depth measurement capabilities that are typically unavailable by conventional optical microscopy.

Metallographic examination by light microscopy is most often performed using reflected-light microscopy. Utilizing the properties of the filters and analyzers that can be applied to reflected-light microscopy, microscopic features, such as grain structures or material inclusions can be enhanced for better observation. Each of the three Reichert MeF3 microscopes in the MEE laboratory can be equipped with brightfield, darkfield, polarized light, and differential interference contrast (DIC) illumination to provide optimal lighting conditions for your samples.

Typical Applications

  • Small sample inspection
  • Metal microstructure evaluation
  • Small feature measurements
  • Fracture mode identification
  • Corrosion failure inspection
  • Surface contamination evaluation

Contact us to discuss which evaluation method is best suited to solve your materials-related problems. Or visit our Handbook of Analytical Methods for Materials (HAMM) for more in-depth explanations and typical applications of the analytical methods used for the characterization and evaluation of materials and products.