MicroArt highlights the beauty and charm found in the microscopic world of materials. Most of the time our focus is on the technical and scientific aspect of microstructures, but we also know that the objects we observe in the microscope are often striking in their appearance. Here we devote some space among our technical publications to showcase micrographs that possess an interesting artistic aesthetic quality.

Readers who are interested in sharing their own images for this feature may email them to the editor of MMA at ryan.deacon@asminternational.org.

This image shows a Vickers indentation made in an artificial diamond gemstone. With a 1000gf load, the sample is severely cracked, which would invalidate the measured hardness of 2600HV, but nonetheless creates an interesting image in the microscope.

figure a

Contributed by:

Justin T. Barnes

Sr. Metallurgical Specialist

IMR Test Labs

Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Louisville, Ky.