Metals Handbook: Volume 12: Fractography (Asm Handbook)
The subject of fractography was first addressed in a Metals Handbook volume in 1974. Volume 9 of the 8th Edition, Fractography and Atlas of Fractographs, provided systematic and comprehensive treatment of what was at that time a relatively new body of knowledge derived from examination and interpretation of features observed on the fracture surfaces of metals. The 8th Edition volume also documented the resurgence of engineering and scientific interest in fracture studies, which was due largely to the development and widespread use of the transmission electron microscope and the scanning electron microscope during the 1960s and early '70s.During the past 10 to 15 years, the science of fractography has continued to mature. With improve methods for specimen preparation, advances in photographic techniques and equipment, the continued refinement and increasing utility of the scanning electron microscope, and the introduction of quantitative fractography, a wealth of new information regarding the basic mechanisms of fracture and the response of materials to various environments has been introduced. This new volume presents in-depth coverage of the latest developments in fracture studies.Like its 8th Edition predecessor, this Handbook is divided into two major sections. The first consists of nine articles that present over 600 photographic illustrations of fracture surfaces and related microstructural features. The introductory article provides an overview of the history of fractography and discusses the development and application of the electron microscope for fracture evaluation. The next article, "Modes of Fracture," describes the basic fracture modes as well as some of the mechanisms involved in the fracture process, discusses how the environment affects material behavior and fracture appearance, and lists material defects where fracture can initiate. Of particular interest in this article is the section "Effect of Environment on Fatigue Fracture," which reviews the effects of gaseous environments, liquid environments, vacuum, temperature, and loading on fracture morphology. --ASM International