Metallography

• Optical microscopy and photo-documentation
• Preparation of polished sections
• Analysis of damage

Microscopy and spectroscopy

• Reflected-light microscopy
• Atomic-force microscopy (AFM)
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
• Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX)
• Glow-discharge spectroscopy (GDOES)

Nondestructive testing

• Measurement of contours and roughness
• Structural condition (magnetic induction)
• Cladding thickness (X-ray fluorescence)

Mechanical-tribological methods

• Hardness (Vickers, Rockwell, Brinell, Knoop) and universal hardness
• Cladding adhesion (Rockwell test, scratch test)
• 3-point bending test
• High-temperature tribometer (sphere - disc)

Damage analysis

• In cases of damage, the damage must be appraised, and the primary cause of damage must be determined. For this purpose, the appropriate individual analyses are performed, for instance, by means of metallographic and scanning-electron microscopic examinations.