There are aspects of metallography that fall on both sides of that debate. I spent 13 years with a major metallographic product supplier (Allied High Tech Products). I led the research laboratory and technical services there for 6 years, and I've personally worked with thousands of metallographers from around the world.
I came away with these observations:
Sample preparation itself is a science. There is a lot of trial and error involved; people with more experience have already made those errors, making it
look like an art (or even magic!). However, at Allied, we really did strip sample preparation down to a scientific process with measurable differences between procedures. If two people work on the same sample with the "same" process and get different results, my team at Allied would be able to tell you exactly how the process wasn't the same.
Microscopy and analysis are science. Again, there is trial and error, but methods are repeatable and processes can be troubleshooted.
Art, however, is derived from the results of those scientific processes: unique microstructural features, beautiful patterns in results, interesting communication methods, contextual hints, etc. Those are the things that evoke emotions, get people talking, and make metallography memorable.
Just my two cents 😉
------------------------------
Gee Abraham
STEM Writer/Editor
www.GeeAbrahamEdits.comGee@GeeAbrahamEdits.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 02-28-2020 08:32
From: Scott Henry
Subject: Metallography
Is metallography an art or a science?
------------------------------
Scott Henry
Senior Content Engineer
ASM International
Materials Park OH
(440) 338-5401
------------------------------