Cross Sections and Metallography
Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Inc.
Cross sections are prepared by mounting samples in epoxy and then grinding and polishing the mount for imaging in the optical microscope or Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Valuable information from cross sectioning can include: film thicknesses, inclusions, corrosion thickness, dimensional verification, and subsurface defects. Metallographic cross sections are typically etched to reveal the microstructure. Microstructural analysis can provide information about heat treatment history, corrosion susceptibility, as well as undesirable microconstituents.