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    2 Specimen Preparation

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    janak
    The document describes the procedure for preparing a metal specimen for microscopic examination. It involves cutting a representative sample, mounting it, grinding it with increasingly fine abrasive paper to create a flat surface, polishing it using diamond and alumina powders, and finally etching it with a chemical reagent to reveal its microstructure. The aim is to obtain a specimen that is flat, scratch-free, and suitably prepared to be clearly examined under a microscope. Proper specimen preparation is essential for reliable metallurgical testing and analysis of a material's microstructural features.

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    2 Specimen Preparation

    Uploaded by

    janak
    108 views5 pages
    The document describes the procedure for preparing a metal specimen for microscopic examination. It involves cutting a representative sample, mounting it, grinding it with increasingly fine abrasive paper to create a flat surface, polishing it using diamond and alumina powders, and finally etching it with a chemical reagent to reveal its microstructure. The aim is to obtain a specimen that is flat, scratch-free, and suitably prepared to be clearly examined under a microscope. Proper specimen preparation is essential for reliable metallurgical testing and analysis of a material's microstructural features.

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    2 specimen preparation

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    The document describes the procedure for preparing a metal specimen for microscopic examination. It involves cutting a representative sample, mounting it, grinding it with increasingly fine abrasive paper to create a flat surface, polishing it using diamond and alumina powders, and finally etching it with a chemical reagent to reveal its microstructure. The aim is to obtain a specimen that is flat, scratch-free, and suitably prepared to be clearly examined under a microscope. Proper specimen preparation is essential for reliable metallurgical testing and analysis of a material's microstructural features.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    108 views5 pages

    2 Specimen Preparation

    Uploaded by

    janak
    The document describes the procedure for preparing a metal specimen for microscopic examination. It involves cutting a representative sample, mounting it, grinding it with increasingly fine abrasive paper to create a flat surface, polishing it using diamond and alumina powders, and finally etching it with a chemical reagent to reveal its microstructure. The aim is to obtain a specimen that is flat, scratch-free, and suitably prepared to be clearly examined under a microscope. Proper specimen preparation is essential for reliable metallurgical testing and analysis of a material's microstructural features.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 5

    Experiment No: 2

    Aim:
    To study procedure of specimen preparation for microscopic examination and to
    carry out a specimen preparation.

    Introduction

    Specimen preparation or polishing is necessary to study its micro-structure, because the


    metallurgical microscope discussed earlier makes use of the principle of reflection of light (from
    the specimen) to obtain the metal structure. Satisfactory metallographic results can be obtained
    only, when the specimen has been carefully prepared. Even the most costly microscope will not
    reveal the metal structure if the specimen has been poorly prepared. A properly prepared metal
    specimen is flat, does not contain scratches, its nicely polished, and suitably etched.

    Metallography

     Metallography is the study of the physical structure and components of metals, typically
    using microscopy.
     Precision metallurgical sample preparation is a key step in performing reliable
    metallurgical testing.
     Facilitate examination and interpretation of microstructural features.
     To find out various phase present in material.
     Improper preparation methods may obscure features, and even

    Procedure
    The procedure for preparing the specimen for both macro and micro-examination is the
    same, except that in the later case the final surface finish is more important than in the
    former.
    1. Selection of specimen
    When investigating the properties of a metal or alloy, it is essential that the, specimen should
    be selected from that area (of the alloy plate or casting) which can be taken as representative
    of the whole mass.
    2. Cutting of the specimen
    After selecting a particular area in the whole mass, the specimen may be removed with the
    help of a saw, a trepanning tool, an abrasive wheel, etc.
    3. Mounting the specimen
    If the specimen is too small to be held in hand for further processing, it should be mounted
    machine in the thermoplastic resin or some other low melting point alloy.

    Material Science & Metallurgy (2131904)


    Mechanical Engineering Department
    Government Engineering College Bhavnagar
    Page 1
    Experiment No: 2

    Mounted specimens

    4. Obtaining Flat Specimen Surface


    It is first necessary to obtain a reasonably flat surface on the specimen on the specimen. This
    is achieved by using a fairly coarse file or machining or grinding, by using a motor driven
    emery belt.
    5. Intermediate and Fine Grinding
    Intermediate and fine grinding is carried out using emery papers of progressively finer
    grade. The emery papers should be of very good quality in respect of uniformity of particle
    size Four grades of abrasives used are: 220 grit, 320 grit, 400 grit, and 600 grit (from coarse
    to fine); the 320 grit has particle sizes (of the silicon carbide) as about 33 microns and 600
    grit that of 17 microns ( 1 micron =1/1000 mm).The specimen is first ground on 220 grit
    paper, so that scratches are produced roughly at right angle to those initially existing on the
    specimen and produced through preliminary grinding or coarse filing operation.
    Having removed the primary grinding marks, the specimen is washed free of No. 220 grit.
    Grinding is then continued on the No. 320 paper, again turning the specimen through 90°
    and polishing until the previous scratch marks are removed. The process is repeated with the
    No. 400 and No. 600 papers. Grinding with the No.200, No.320, etc., papers could be done
    in the following ways:
    The specimen may be hand-rubbed against the abrasive paper, which is laid over a flat
    surface such as a piece of glass plate. The abrasive paper may be mounted on the surface of
    a flat, horizontally rotating wheel and the specimen held, in the hand, against it. In either
    case, the surface of the abrasive paper (with water proof bases) shall be lubricated with
    water so as to provide a flushing action to carry away the particles cut from the surface.

    Material Science & Metallurgy (2131904)


    Mechanical Engineering Department
    Government Engineering College Bhavnagar
    Page 2
    Experiment No: 2

    Fine grinding Emery paper for grinding

    Belt grinder Emery paper for belt grinder

    6. Rough Polishing
    A very small quantity of diamond powder (particle size about 6 microns) carried in a paste
    that is oil-soluble is placed on the nylon cloth-covered surface of a rotating Polishing wheel.
    The lubricant used during the polishing operation is specially prepared oil. The specimen is
    pressed against the cloth of the rotating wheel with considerable pressure and is moved
    around the wheel in the direction opposite to rotation of the wheel to ensure a more uniform
    polishing action.

    Material Science & Metallurgy (2131904)


    Mechanical Engineering Department
    Government Engineering College Bhavnagar
    Page 3
    Experiment No: 2

    Double Disc polishing machine Single Disc polishing machine

    7. Fine Polishing
    The polishing compound used is alumina (Al2O3) power (with a particle size of 0.05
    microns) placed on a cloth covered rotating wheel. Distilled water is used as a lubricant.
    Fine polishing removes fine scratches and very layer remaining from the rough polishing
    stage.
    8. Etching
    Even after fine polishing, the granular structure in a specimen usually cannot be seen under
    the microscope; because grain boundaries in a metal have a thickness of the order of a few
    atom diameters at best, and the resolving power of a microscope is much too low to reveal.
    In order to make the grain boundaries visible, after fine polishing the metal specimen are
    usually etched. Etching imparts unlike appearances to the metal constituents and thus makes
    metal structure apparent under the microscope

    Sr. Type of
    No. Etchant Composition Uses

    1. Nital (i)Cone, Nitric acid 2CC For etching steels, grey cast
    (ii) Absolute methyl 98CC iron
    alcohol & black head malleable.

    2. Acid ammonium (i)Hydrochloric acid 10CC For etching stainless steels.


    persulphate (ii) Ammonium per- 10gms
    sulphate 80CC
    (iii) Water

    3. Ammonia hydrogen (i)Ammonium 50CC The best general Etchant


    peroxide hydroxide (0.880) 20- for copper, brasses and
    (ii) Hydrogen peroxide 50CC bronze
    (3%solution) 50 CC

    Material Science & Metallurgy (2131904)


    Mechanical Engineering Department
    Government Engineering College Bhavnagar
    Page 4
    Experiment No: 2

    (iii) Water

    4. Dilute hydrofluoric (i) Hydrofluoric acid 0.5 CC A good general Etchant for
    acid (ii) Water 99.5 Al and its alloys (apply by
    CC swabbing)

    5. Keller’s Reagent (i)Hydrochloric acid 1 CC For (immersion) etching of


    (ii) Hcl 1.5 CC Duralumin type alloys
    (iii) HNO3 2.5 CC
    (iv) Water 95 CC

    6. Mixed nitric and (i) Nitric acid 50 CC For etching Nickel and
    acetic acids (ii) Glacial acetic acid 50 CC Monel metal

    Table. 1 Etching regents for Microscopic Examination

    Method:
    Before Etching, the polished specimen is thoroughly washed in running water.
    Then, the etching is done either by
    1. Immersing the polished surface (of the specimen) in the etching reagent or by
    2. Rubbing the polished surface gently with a cotton swab wetted with the etching Reagent.
    After etching, the specimen is again washed thoroughly and dried. Now, the specimen can be
    studied under the microscope. Etching reagents for microscopic examination.

    Conclusion:

    A microstructural image showing microstructure of the sample prepared.

    Material Science & Metallurgy (2131904)


    Mechanical Engineering Department
    Government Engineering College Bhavnagar
    Page 5

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