METALLURGY
Introduction
When considering the in-service condition of plant equipment , and in particular when working at high pressure, high temperature operational conditions, metallurgical condition assessment is an essential component to understanding current equipment conditions.
Metallurgical condition assessment performed on components that sustain in-service degradation mechanisms can provide a benchmark as to the current condition.
Field metallographic replication is the initial step in the process of metallurgical condition assessment. This microstructural condition investigation method is a non-destructive form of testing used to establish causes/ extent of damage and/or aging mechanisms in metallic structures from micrographs of grain structure and is often implemented alongside primarily NDT activities. Metallurgical Microstructure Replicas provides important assessment (cause/ growth) data to engineers responsible for plant management.