Materials Science Laboratory Research
Published:
Overview
Conducted three laboratory projects in materials characterization and mechanical testing as part of ME 2340/2341 coursework.
Project 1: Material Identification using XRD
- Identified unknown metals using X-Ray Diffraction analysis
- Applied Bragg’s Law with <0.5% error
- Determined crystal structures (FCC for Aluminum, BCC for Iron)
- Validated results against JCPDS database
Project 2: Quantitative Metallography of Cu-Zn Brass
- Performed sample preparation (grinding, polishing, etching)
- Used LAS Phase Expert for image analysis
- Determined phase composition through quantitative analysis
- Analyzed heat-treated steel samples (Pearlite vs. Martensite)
Project 3: Mechanical Property Testing
- Conducted Rockwell hardness testing
- Performed Charpy impact testing at various temperatures (-200°C to 200°C)
- Analyzed Ductile-Brittle Transition Temperature (DBTT)
- Provided material selection recommendations
Technical Skills
XRD Analysis, Metallography, Optical Microscopy, Hardness Testing, Impact Testing, Phase Diagrams