International Metallographic Contest Research Articles

2025 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

2025 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

2024 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

2024 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

A Two-Step Etchant to Reveal Grain Boundaries in Multiple Aluminum Alloys

Abstract This article reports on development of a versatile new technique that fills the need for grain etching in multiple aluminum alloy series. The procedure is a two-step etch that combines an attack etchant with a stain etchant to reveal grain structure of 2000, 5000, 6000, and 7000 series aluminum alloys. This entry won the prestigious DuBose-Crouse Award for unique, unusual, and new techniques in microscopy at the 2022 International Metallographic Contest.

2023 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

2023 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

Conventional Light Microscopy Reveals Beauty of Single Phase Cartridge Brass

Abstract This article describes sample preparation to create a visually impressive micrograph image of single-phase cartridge brass, C26000, an alloy composition of 70% copper and 30% zinc. C26000 was chosen due to the striking twins and large grain size that are easily generated by annealing a cold-worked sample, the large range of contrast and colors that can be created by etching, and the wide availability of the material. This entry won the Jacquet-Lucas Award for Best in Show at the 2021 International Metallographic Contest.

2022 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

2022 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

Artistic Entries from the 2021 International Metallographic Contest

Artistic Entries from the 2021 International Metallographic Contest

Using Conventional Light Microscopy to Reveal the Hierarchical Microstructure of 3D-Printed Metal Parts

Abstract This entry won the prestigious Jacquet-Lucas Award for Best in Show in the 2020 International Metallographic Contest. In the research discussed in this article, light microscopy was applied to a Co28Cr6Mo alloy for a biomedical application processed by laser bed powder fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing.

New Video Class Added to the 2021 International Metallographic Contest (IMC)

New Video Class Added to the 2021 International Metallographic Contest (IMC)

2021 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

2021 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

Annealing of a Nanostructured Bainitic Steel

Abstract This article describes a procedure for optimizing the annealed microstructure of a high Al KAB steel. The main focus is directed toward characterization of microstructural development during annealing of different phases in a nanostructured bainitic steel using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). This entry won the prestigious 2019 Jacquet-Lucas Award for Excellence in Metallography at the International Metallographic Contest held in Portland, Oregon, October 2019.

Artistic Entries from the 2019 International Metallographic Contest

Artistic Entries from the 2019 International Metallographic Contest

2020 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

2020 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

New Etching Technique for Characterizing Friction Stir Welds in Aluminum Alloys

Abstract This article discusses the development of a new metallographic technique to identify defects in aluminum alloy joints produced by friction stir welding. This method won the Jacquet-Lucas Award for Excellence in Metallography at the International Metallographic Contest held during MS&T in Pittsburgh, October 2017.

2019 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

2019 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

Artistic Entries from the 2018 International Metallographic Contest

Artistic Entries from the 2018 International Metallographic Contest

2018 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

2018 International Metallographic Contest (IMC) and Exhibit

Artistic Entries from the 2017 International Metallographic Contest

Artistic Entries from the 2017 International Metallographic Contest

The History of Metallography at Lehigh University

Although the science and art of metallography was founded in Germany by Rose and Vogel, and in England by Sorby, it rapidly developed in the United States in parallel with the growth of the American Industrial Revolution. This was especially true with the growth of railroads, shipping, tall buildings construction (steel, copper alloys) and then automobiles and civilian and military aircraft (aluminum). The pioneers in light optical microscopy were from Harvard (Sauveur), Columbia University (Howe), and Lehigh University (Stoughton, Pulsifer, and Kehl). Lehigh then became a world leader in both scanning and transmission electron microscopy (Goldstein and Williams, among others). The Summer Microscopy School at Lehigh is now the world leader in this area and has operated for over 46 years. Students and graduates of Lehigh have been awarded more prizes at the International Metallographic Contest of IMS than any other institution, academic or industrial. This paper highlighted the developments in equipment, the research programs, and the people who participated in these endeavors.

Artistic Entries from the 2016 International Metallographic Contest

Artistic Entries from the 2016 International Metallographic Contest