Dr.
Yoshitaka Adachi, a Principal Researcher at the Exploratory Materials Research Laboratory for Reliability and Safety (Managing Director: Kohmei Halada) of the National Institute for Materials Science (President: Sukekatsu Ushioda), in joint research with Nakayamadenki Co., Ltd., succeeded in the development of a fully-automatic serial sectioning device, “Genus_3D,” which enables 3-dimensional (3D) observation of microstructure images.
The development of this device makes it possible to obtain cross-sectional images of metallic materials with high efficiency. At the same time, the device is a compact, desktop type (total weight: approximately 40kg) which uses the wet polishing method. Taking advantage of these features, it is possible to obtain sectioning images of metallic and inorganic materials, beginning with iron and steel materials.
3D microstructural images obtained using this device received the Microstructure Photography Encouragement Award at the Spring Meeting of the Japan Institute of Metals held March 25-27. Details were announced at the FY2010 joint workshop of mathematics and mathematical sciences and various science and industrial technology fields held on March 7 and at the Spring Meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute of Japan (held simultaneously with the meeting of the Japan Institute of Metals).
