Webinar on magnesium alloy metallography scheduled for Dec. 1

Buehler is offering a new webinar that will focus on magnesium alloys, which are prevalent in the automotive and aerospace manufacturing industries. “Metallography & Etching of Magnesium Alloys” will be presented on Dec. 1 at 12:00 p.m. CT.

Magnesium alloys tend to have a high strength-to-weight ratio, exceptional machinability, and low cost. They are well-known for being the lightest structural alloys and can be mixed with other metal elements—manganese, aluminum, zinc, silicon, copper, zirconium, and rare-earth metals—to improve the physical properties.

Etching enhances the contrast on surfaces to reveal the microstructure of material samples. Metallurgists in heat-treat, manufacturing, and research facilities analyze light metals through etching to reveal microstructural details.

The webinar will be presented by George Vander Voort, physical metallurgist and an exclusive consultant to Buehler. He served as Buehler’s director of research and technology for more than a decade and has over 50 years of experience as an expert in microstructural analysis, interpretation, and measurement.

The webinar will:

• Review fundamental principles of preparation of these light alloys.
• Share recommended preparation routes.
• Advise on common preparation problems.
• Provide recommendations on etch selection.
• Demonstrate microstructures typical of this material group.
• Highlight common problems in processing and analysis.
• Discuss key techniques to ensure success.
• Include a live question-and-answer session.