Images of topography and mechanical properties (phase imaging) of cast iron samples from water installations

Measurements in contact and semi-contact mode. NTEGRA Prima (NT-MDT) device. CSG 10.
The research was related to the project of monitoring the condition of sewage pipelines in the city of Gdańsk. In addition to typical corrosion tests, microstructural imaging was also performed using an atomic force microscope. The device allows to visualize the heterogeneity of the cast iron structure by means of topographic imaging. However, because topographic differences may also come from other sources (e.g. errors in the surface preparation process), additional measurements of the mechanical properties of the surfaces of the tested samples were made. By making the probe vibrate while in contact with the surface, it is possible to determine local changes in the hardness of the material by monitoring changes in the amplitude and phase of the oscillation. This technique allowed to distinguish areas with different mechanical properties, i.e. with a different structure. The heterogeneity of the microstructure of cast iron translates into its susceptibility to corrosion attack, i.e. the value important for the assessment of the service life of the tested pipelines. The file contains 21 images.