Replication (microscopy)

Replication, in metallography, is the use of thin plastic films to nondestructively duplicate the microstructure of a component.

It is the commonly used technique to duplicate surfaces that are inaccessible in metrology to other forms of nondestructive testing.

Replicas can be used in biology as well: The replicas may be imaged in the light microscope or coated with heavy metals, the replicating film melted away, and the heavy metal replica imaged in a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).

Field Metallurgical Replication (FMR), in field metallography, is the use of metallurgical preparation on surfaces in the field, by polishing to a mirror image, along with application of acetate or other thin plastic films designed to nondestructively duplicate the microstructure of a part or structure in-situ.

The FMR replica is then transferred to a glass slide for examination by optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and other methods.