Steel, heated in contact with air at temperatures in the tempering range, takes on various temper colors due to the formation of a thin oxide film. This article provides detailed information on temper colors for plain carbon steel, especially on the effects of time and temperature.

This article discusses failure mechanisms in tool and die materials that are very important to nearly all manufacturing processes. It is primarily devoted to failures of tool steels used in cold working and hot working applications. The processes involved in the analysis of tool and die failures are also covered. In addition, the article focuses on a number of factors that are responsible for tool and die failures, including mechanical design, grade selection, steel quality, machining processes, heat treatment operation, and tool and die setup.

This article describes the characteristics of tools and dies and the causes of their failures. It discusses the failure mechanisms in tool and die materials that are important to nearly all manufacturing processes, but is primarily devoted to failures of tool steels used in cold-working and hot-working applications. It reviews problems introduced during mechanical design, materials selection, machining, heat treating, finish grinding, and tool and die operation. The brittle fracture of rehardened high-speed steels is also considered. Finally, failures due to seams or laps, unconsolidated interiors, and carbide segregation and poor carbide morphology are reviewed with illustrations.

This article addresses the effects of damage to equipment and structures due to explosions (blast), fire, and heat as well as the methodologies that are used by investigating teams to assess the damage and remaining life of the equipment. It discusses the steps involved in preliminary data collection and preparation. Before discussing the identification, evaluation, and use of explosion damage indicators, the article describes some of the more common events that are considered in incident investigations. The range of scenarios that can occur during explosions and the characteristics of each are also covered. In addition, the article primarily discusses level 1 and level 2 of fire and heat damage assessment and provides information on level 3 assessment.

Anodizing refers to conversion coating of the surface of aluminum and its alloys to porous aluminum oxide. This article provides the reasons for performing anodizing and discusses the three principal types of anodizing processes, namely, chromic acid process, sulfuric acid process, and hard anodic process. It describes the limitations imposed by variables, such as alloy composition, surface finish, prior processing, temper or heat treatment, and the use of inserts, on the anodizing processes. The article explains the causes and means adopted for correcting several specific problems in anodizing aluminum. It also discusses the process control techniques and equipment used for anodizing. The article reviews the sealing processes for anodic coatings and the method for coloring the coatings. It concludes with a discussion on the effects of anodic coatings on the surface and mechanical properties of aluminum and its alloys.

This article describes the metallographic specimen preparation procedures for cast iron test samples, including mounting, grinding, polishing, and etching. It discusses the makeup and use of black-and-white and selective color etchants and where one might be preferred over the other. The article provides information on nearly 100 micrographs, discussing the microstructure of flake graphite in gray iron, nodular graphite in ductile iron, and temper graphite in malleable iron. It also examines the matrix microstructures of gray, ductile, compacted, and malleable cast iron samples.

Tool steels are prepared for metallographic examination in the same way as carbon steels with a few variations owing to hardness and alloying differences. This article explains what makes tool steels different and how to compensate for it when sectioning, mounting, grinding, polishing, and etching. It provides information and data on composition, hot working, austenitizing, tempering, and powder metal manufacturing and explains how it affects tool steel microstructure, using more than 100 detailed images.

Alloy 5005, available as architectural sheet and components, was introduced in 1935 to fill the need of the mobile-home industry for a lightweight, inexpensive, workable, corrosion-resistant siding material. This datasheet provides information on composition limits, mill product specifications, processing effects on physical and mechanical properties, and fabrication characteristics of this 5xxx series alloy.

This article describes two contemporary approaches for preparing cast iron specimens with a wide range of phases and constituents as well as different graphite morphologies. It introduces concepts and preparation materials that enable metallographers to shorten the process while producing better, more consistent results. Recommended procedures to prepare cast irons and examples of high-alloy cast iron microstructures revealed using a variety of etchants are presented. Several etchants are used to reveal the matrix microstructure, depending on the alloy content. The article discusses the use of black and white etchants and lists the compositions of abrasion-resistant cast irons according to ASTM A532/A532M in a table.