Cell Area Characterisation of Fe-B-C Cast Alloys with Various Additions of Cr, V, W, Ti, Nb and Mo Measured by Optical Microscopy Method
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study developed an automated workflow for spatially resolved quantitative characterisation of Fe–B–C alloy microstructures across sample cross-sections. Automated high-magnification optical microscopy and image reconstruction generated spatially registered maps exceeding 20 GB per sample, preserving microstructural detail and spatial position. The workflow quantified cell area and core-to-surface gradients, while the maps supported assessment of boride-network distribution and morphology. It was applied to 22 hypoeutectic alloys containing approximately 0.35 wt.% B, prepared under identical casting conditions, and modified with Cr, V, W, Ti, Nb, and Mo. Optical emission spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy complemented full-area image analysis and statistical evaluation. After invalid measurements and geometrically unsuitable regions were excluded, 12,785 figures with valid cell area measurements were analysed. All alloys exhibited a decrease in cell area from the core towards the surface. Alloy-group differences were significant for mean and median cell area according to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA; p < 0.001) and the Kruskal–Wallis test (p = 0.027 for both parameters), whereas the magnitude of the spatial gradient did not differ significantly among groups. The workflow provides a reproducible link between high-resolution microscopy and sample-scale evaluation of microstructural distributions, gradients, and homogeneity.
Source: Materials
DOI: 10.3390/ma19214709
Institution: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
Language: English
Subfield: General Materials Science
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W7225317438