60. Metallography Conference with more than 200 participants

This autumn, the 60th Metallography Conference took place at TU Leoben. The conference has been held in Leoben every four years since 1963. Univ.-Prof. Ronald Schnitzer from the Chair of Physical Metallurgy served as scientific chairman.

The latest metallographic findings and developments in the application of artificial intelligence methods were presented and discussed in detail in six plenary lectures and 39 technical presentations as well as eleven poster contributions. In addition, 21 exhibitors provided the more than 200 participants with impressive equipment demonstrations.

The accompanying programme, featuring a reception hosted by the Mayor at the Gösserbräu and an atmospheric conference dinner at the live congress venue, offered numerous opportunities for professional exchange among metallography experts in a pleasant atmosphere throughout this anniversary conference.

Program

Special highlights were also the excursions to selected companies and research institutions, which provided exciting insights into the practical application of modern materials and analysis technologies and were very well received by the participants.

A “MiniLab" was also held alongside the scientific presentations. Around 30 high school students from Leoben and Knittelfeld gained insights into the conference topics. The aim was to inspire young people to take an interest in technology and metallography.

Numerous awards were presented during the conference, including the prestigious Roland Mitsche Prize. Named in memory of the founder and first professor of the Chair of Physical Metallurgy, the prize is awarded for outstanding achievements in the field of metallography and in the investigation of material structures. This year’s prize was awarded to Katrin Kuhnke and Holger Schnarr in the presence of representatives from three succeeding generations of Roland Mitsche’s family.

Prizes for Mahima Haque and Maximilian Graf

Two researchers from TU Leoben also received awards: Mahima Haque from the Chair of Structural and Functional Ceramics achieved second place at the Struers Best Poster Award. She was awarded for her work on AI-supported spark plasma sintering. Maximilian Graf from the Chair of Physical Metallurgy also took second place in the Struers Best Presentation Award. He received the prize for his presentation on the effects of increased scrap use in CO₂-reduced steel production.