The images previously presented with the text have been vastly reduced to speed up downloading. For the patient among you, here are some larger sample images to peruse. Each image may well take two or three minutes to fully load. Right-click on the images to save for later viewing or printing. Use the 'Back' button on your browser to return here after viewing each image. Note that much higher resolution (and consequently even slower downloading!) images are captured with the digital cameras attached both our SEM and optical equipment.

Image 1: SEM micrograph of fatigue striations in a failed stainless steel component. This is a typical use of the SEM. (74K, 480x576)

Image 2: Optical micrograph of a lead slag. (351K, 768x576)

Image 3: Optical micrograph of spheroidal graphite particles in cast iron. 'Stripey' areas are pearlite, light plain areas ferrite and the dark circles graphite. (256K, 768x576)