n a world in which metals shape everyday life - from bridges and cars to high-tech equipment - the importance of materials research and testing is coming into focus. A prominent example of this is the sudden collapse of Dresden's Carola Bridge a year ago. Identifying potential weak points at an early stage is one of the tasks of metallography, which is also taught at Aalen University of Applied Sciences. Exactly 70 years ago, the first conditions of today's standard work "Metallography" by Hermann Schumann were published. In specialist circles, it is also affectionately known as the "Metallographers' Bible" and is an indispensable reference work for researchers, engineers and students. The co-editor and author of the 16th edition is Gaby Ketzer-Raichle, who heads the materialography laboratory at the institution of higher education. "This is a great honor and the crowning achievement of my professional career," beams the 63-year-old.
Colorful structural images
848 pages and weighing 2.5 kilos: the 16th edition of "Schumann Metallography", which was recently published to mark the 70th anniversary, is quite a thick tome. "It was an incredible amount of work - it's a good thing I didn't know that beforehand," says Gaby Ketzer-Raichle, laughing heartily. She proudly strokes the book cover with its colorful emotional images. She spent almost three years working on updating the textbook together with co-editor Professor Dr. Heinrich Oettel and, as the first female author, added further chapters on topics such as welded joints, magnetic and battery materials, machine learning, additive manufacturing and high-temperature microscopy together with colleagues from the Institute for Materials Research at Aalen University of Applied Sciences (IMFAA).
"A highlight of my professional life"
Hermann Schumann (1924-1989) was a highly-respected, prestigious, well-known expert in the field of metallography and metallurgy, whose work laid the foundation for modern materials analysis and treatment. His comprehensive description of the microscopic structures of metals and alloys and his detailed instructions, tutorials on investigations/analyses and assessment, rating have had a significant influence on the development of metallurgy. The "Schumann" has also accompanied Gaby Ketzer-Raichle throughout her vocational training and professional life. As a young metallographer, she would never have dreamed that she herself would one day be the publisher of the title. "It really is a great honor and a highlight of my professional life," says the Stuttgart native happily.
Prefers screwing around instead of crocheting
Gaby Ketzer-Raichle can still rave about the aesthetics of metallic structures just as much as she did when she started out as a metallographer: "It's almost like art and never gets boring. It's like a little world of wonders that you have no idea about when you hold a piece of metal in your hands. And then you take a look through the light microscope and think 'Wow! After completing her Abitur, university entrance qualification, she didn't really know where she wanted to go on her professional journey. But it was clear from the start that it would be a technical appointment for professors; appointment funds. "Even as a child, I liked screwing around, taking things apart and working with the Märklin metal construction set that my grandfather had given me," recalls Ketzer-Raichle, adding with a smile: "I always preferred handicrafts at school to the stupid crocheting in needlework lessons." When she got her hands on the job sheet about metallography, she knew: "That's exactly what I want to do."
Getting to the bottom of things
The cheerful woman with the dark brown curls has never regretted her choice. Metallography is an extremely versatile and exciting Department / Division - from quality assurance in the production of metallic components to Research and Development of new or improved materials and failure analysis. In addition, metallography is a sought-after and crisis-proof appointment for professors; appointment funds are equally shared by men and women. "The prerequisites(s) are an enjoyment of working with technical staff members and the curiosity to get to the bottom of things," says Ketzer-Raichle. After her vocational training, she initially worked in industry before returning to the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research and, at the age of just 28, training budding metallographers herself. "I was barely older than my students, which was a bit strange at times," says the now 63-year-old with a laugh, "but I really enjoyed it." And passing on the knowledge she has accumulated over the years, as well as her great enthusiasm, still gives her great pleasure today.
A sure instinct
Ketzer-Raichle has been working at the IMFAA at Aalen University of Applied Sciences since 2014. There, she manages the materialography laboratory, instructs researchers in the laboratory / lab and at the microscope and supports lectures and internships, work placement, practicums on metallography. Ketzer-Raichle was also instrumental in the further development of the "Materialography" Electives, which combines classical metallography with engineering subjects and is the only one of its kind in Germany. In 2019, she was awarded the Metallography Prize of the German Society for Materials Science together with IMFAA Head /Director Dr. Timo Bernthaler. "I love reading the metal structures," says Ketzer-Raichle enthusiastically. "Each sample has its own history - from its production to the stresses it has been exposed to." Of all the different activities she carries out, the woman with an eye for detail and a sure instinct still prefers to sit in front of the microscope. "For me, every working day is a little voyage of discovery," says Ketzer-Raichle cheerfully.
