OUTLINE OF SEM

&
FRACTOGRAPHY IN SEM
EM  Electrons used as source to get
an image through scattered/unscattered
transmitted electron OR emission of
se/ bse / X-ray / EBSP from
specimen
 Advantages of SEM over OM

• Wave length of e-s are shorter than light photons

result: better resolution & higher magnification.

OM SEM
• Max. mag. 2000x 8,00,000x
• Resolution 5000Å 10Å
• Depth of field 0.2m 100 m
(at 1000x)
• Chemical analysis No Yes
• Crystal Structure No Yes
• Sample Prep. Easy Easy
Information from SEM
• Surface morphology

• Elemental micro-analysis

• Morpho-chemical analysis

• Fractography

• Micro-texture and Phase ID

Electron – Specimen Interaction
 Low E & Low Z

High E & Low Z

Incident electron

Incident electron

Low E & High Z

High E & High Z

 Secondary electron
easily escaped

Secondary electron
reabsorbed
 Electron - Sample Interaction

Primary Electron

Backscattered Electron

Elastic Scattering ( electron – nucleus collision)

Backscattered Electron Emission

BSE co - eff.,  Z 1.5

6
BSE Image
 Electron - Sample Interaction
Primary Electron

X-rays

E2
e- X-ray
E1

Inelastic Scattering (electron-electron collision)

X-rays
Property of Characteristic X-ray

E  C1Z  C2  2

Energy level: M L K K

Intensity level: K > K > L >M

e-
Characteristic X-rays are named as follows:

Kα: when vacancy in K-shell is filled by a transition

from L-shell,

Kβ: when vacancy in K-shell is filled by a transition

from M-shell,

Lα: when vacancy in L-shell is filled by a transition

from M-shell,

Mα: when vacancy in M-shell is filled by a transition

from N-shell, etc.
MODES OF FRACTURE & THEIR
CHARACTERISTICS
 Fracture modes
(in metallic materials)
Intergranular Cleavage

Ductile (MVC) Fatigue

 Ductile Vs Brittle
(in metallic materials)
Fatigue

Microscopic:
Striations

Macroscopic:
Beach Marks
Fatigue Failures: Characteristics

  Lack of gross deformation

 Beachmarks

… macroscopically visible marks that represent positions of the

fatigue crack front

Promoted by: Synonyms:

• Interruptions in crack growth Beachmark •

• Change in corrosion or Stop marks •
oxidation conditions
Arrest marks •
• Change in stress amplitude
Clamshell marks •
• Overloads and consequent
Conchoidal marks •
retardation of crack
 Striations

Beach Marks
Cleavage
Cracking
 Ductile
Fracture
 Intergranular Fracture

In spite of the defective structure of …. unless acted upon by external

grain boundaries, metallic materials do factors like high temperatures,
not fracture along grain boundaries aqueous environments, gaseous
environments, corrosive
environments etc.
Brittle phase
precipitation at
grain boundaries

Grain boundary
cavitation at high
Hydrogen temperatures
emrittlement

Dynamic segregation Intergranular

of impurities to grain Environmentally corrosion
boundaries assisted cracking
Intergranular Cleavage

Ductile (MVC) Fatigue