Quantitative Phase Analysis with Advanced Image Processing

Go beyond qualitative observation. MicroVision Suite is a powerful microstructure analysis software that allows you to accurately calculate the volume fraction of different phases in your material, providing critical data for quality control and research.

The Challenge: From Image to Data

Visual inspection of a microstructure can reveal the presence of different phases, such as ferrite and pearlite in steel, or graphite in nodular cast iron. However, the human eye cannot accurately determine their proportions. For precise quality control and material characterization, obtaining a quantitative phase percentage calculation is essential.

Traditional methods like manual point counting are extremely slow, laborious, and subject to significant operator bias. This is where a modern phase analysis software becomes an indispensable tool.

How MicroVision Suite Performs Phase Analysis

Our software employs a sophisticated, yet user-friendly, approach to distinguish and quantify phases within a digital image. We’ve moved beyond simple color thresholding to provide a more robust and accurate solution.

The Power of CIELAB Color Space

Instead of relying on the basic RGB or HSV color models, which can be highly sensitive to lighting variations, our metallurgical analysis software operates in the CIELAB (L*a*b*) color space. This advanced model represents color in a way that more closely aligns with human perception.

The key advantage is our ability to calculate the “color distance” (Delta E) between pixels. You simply click on a representative area of the phase you want to measure, and the software intelligently selects all other pixels in the image that are perceptually similar, even if their lighting or shading is slightly different.

This results in a far more accurate and repeatable phase percentage calculation compared to tools that use simple brightness or hue sliders.

A Streamlined Workflow for Fast, Accurate Results

Getting quantitative data from your micrographs has never been easier:

  1. Select a Reference Point: Use the eyedropper tool to click on the phase you wish to quantify (e.g., a ferrite grain).
  2. Adjust the Tolerance: A single, intuitive slider allows you to adjust the color distance (ΔE) tolerance. As you move the slider, you see a real-time preview of the selected area highlighted on your image.
  3. Get Instant Calculation: The software instantly displays the calculated percentage of the selected phase.
  4. Save Your Results: You can save the final, highlighted image with the percentage value permanently annotated on it, creating a complete visual report.

Practical Applications in Metallurgy

This powerful tool is essential for any lab working with metals and materials. It’s the ideal image analysis software for metallurgy tasks such as:

  • Ferrite-Pearlite Analysis: Quickly and accurately determine the ferrite-to-pearlite ratio in carbon steels.
  • Nodular Cast Iron Microstructure: Quantify the percentage of graphite, ferrite, and pearlite in ductile iron samples.
  • Porosity Measurement: Measure the percentage of voids or porosity in sintered materials or castings.
  • Coating Thickness Analysis: Analyze cross-sections to determine the proportion of different coating layers.

Unlock the Quantitative Data in Your Micrographs

Stop estimating and start measuring. With MicroVision Suite, you can perform fast, accurate, and repeatable phase analysis with just a few clicks. Download the trial or purchase your license to add this essential capability to your lab.