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Lab 1 Metallography Specimen Preparation - Repair

The document discusses the process of preparing metallographic samples for microscopic examination. It begins with an introduction describing the steps of specimen preparation including cutting, mounting, grinding, polishing and etching. The objectives are then stated as understanding sample preparation and the importance of grinding, polishing and etching. The methodology section outlines using medium carbon steel and describes the equipment. It provides details on the procedures of grinding with abrasive papers, polishing with diamond paste, and etching with 2% nital solution. The conclusion restates that grinding, polishing and etching are the main preparation steps that must be done in order to properly prepare the sample for examination.

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Mifzal Izzani
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502 views6 pages

Lab 1 Metallography Specimen Preparation - Repair

The document discusses the process of preparing metallographic samples for microscopic examination. It begins with an introduction describing the steps of specimen preparation including cutting, mounting, grinding, polishing and etching. The objectives are then stated as understanding sample preparation and the importance of grinding, polishing and etching. The methodology section outlines using medium carbon steel and describes the equipment. It provides details on the procedures of grinding with abrasive papers, polishing with diamond paste, and etching with 2% nital solution. The conclusion restates that grinding, polishing and etching are the main preparation steps that must be done in order to properly prepare the sample for examination.

Uploaded by

Mifzal Izzani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Specimen preparation, prior to observation, requires considerable skill


and experience. For this experiment, specimens have already been prepared. The
specimens were cut from bulk metal samples, and then mounted in plastic to
facilitate handling. The surface of the specimen was then ground and polished to
a mirror-like smooth finish. This was done by using first coarse and then finer
and finer abrasives. The final stage of polishing typically use a diamond abrasive
on a polishing wheel. Each stage of polishing must remove the scratches or
grooves created by the previous polishing stage. The equipment used for
grinding and polishing is usually available in the metallurgical lab (Struers,
2018).

The grooves produced by the very fine polishing compounds, are


narrower than the wavelength of the light used; because of this, a polished
specimen will appear mirror like. To bring out features such as distribution of
phases, grain boundaries, twins, and cracks, a specimen must be treated with a
chemical solution called an etchant. An etchant attacks different metallographic
features at different rates. Certain features (e.g., grain boundaries) are
preferentially dissolved; the result is the formation of low and high areas. This
topographic relief allows one to view features on the sample surface. Etchants
may also tint separate phases differently, facilitating identification. A typical
etchant for steel is called nital. Nital usually consists of 1%, 2% or 3%
concentrated nitric acid in alcohol (ASM-International, 2014).

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Figure 1.0: The effect of etching on a polished surface of a steel metal sample
observed by using the optical microscope.

1.2 Objectives

1. To understand the metallographic sample preparation.


2. To study the importance of the various steps in sample preparation.
3. To understand the need of grinding, polishing and etching.

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CHAPTER 2

METHODOLOGY

2.1 Raw Material

Medium Carbon Steel

2.2 Equipment

Polishing Machine, Microscope, Computer, Hair Dryer, Abrasive paper,


Diamond paste.

2.3 Procedures

2.3.1 Grinding

i. The abrasive paper (400-grit) is cut in the size of polishing disc


and placed onto the disc itself.
ii. A suitable speed of polishing disc must be set. Hold the specimen
downwards on the disc to rub the specimen. Apply an even
pressure as possible to obtain an even pattern of finer scratches.
iii. Wash the specimen and repeat step 1 using the finer grade
abrasive paper (600-grit). The specimen must be in perpendicular
position(90°) towards disc to facilitate removal of the scratch
marks.

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iv. Step 1 to 3 is repeated by replacing finer abrasive paper grade
800-grit, 1000-grit and 1200-grit.
v. The steps is repeated until one fine parallel scratch marks is
obtained.

2.3.2 Polishing

i. A diamond paste is used onto a polishing disc to polish the


specimen surface.
ii. A few drop of lubricant is poured onto the polishing disc to avoid
scratch to the specimen.
iii. The specimen is hold firmly when the polishing machine was
turned on. The procedure is the same as grinding procedures.
iv. The specimen is polished at a moderate speed of polishing disc.
v. Step 1 to 4 is repeated until mirror-like surface is appeared.

2.3.3 Etching

i. The polished surface of the specimen is etched with 2% Nital (2


parts of concentrated nitric acid and 98 parts of ethyl alcohol by
volume) for 1 second.
ii. The etching solution residue on specimen is dried off by using a
dryer.
iii. The specimen is ready to be examined under microscope.

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CHAPTER 3

CONCLUSION

For the metallographic sample preparation, there have a several steps that must
be followed. The process, of grinding, polishing and etching is the three main steps that
need to be done. These process must be done respectively in order from grinding,
polishing and etching. This is because each one of the steps has their own importance in
preparing the sample.

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References

1. Struers, (2018). Grinding and Polishing,


https://www.struers.com/en/Knowledge/Grinding-and-polishing, 30 March
2018.
2. Egrinddiamond, (2014). The difference between grinding and polishing,
http://lappingandpolishing.over-blog.com/2014/04/the-difference-between-
grinding-and-polishing.html, 4 April 2018.

3. ASM International, (2002). Ceramography: Preparation and Analysis of


Ceramic Microstructures, ASM International, Ohio.

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