Stainless Steel and Nickel Alloys - Metallographic Sample Preparation
Stainless steel and nickel (Ni) Alloys can be prepared for metallurgical analysis using OnPoint Abrasives' procedure and consumable supplies. We have provided a step by step process for metallographic sample preparation of stainless steel and nickel (Ni) alloys.
Sectioning: Section specimen with MultiSec abrasive blade or multi-purpose diamond blade.
Mounting: For best results, compression mount specimen using EpoMount epoxy powder. The high hardness of the epoxy will offer superior edge retention and promote flatness across the entire surface of the mount. For samples that require castable mounting, we recommend using EpoPro liquid epoxy system.
Grinding and Polishing: In this section, we've provided two methods for preparing your specimen for analysis, Traditional Method and Advanced Method.
The Traditional Method uses a series of Silicon Carbide grinding papers to first planarize and grind the surface to around 3-5 micron (1200 grit), before moving to polishing steps using suspensions and cloths. This method is effective for general purpose metallography, although it can introduce some relief, or rounding of the specimen's edge.
TRADITIONAL METHOD FOR PREPARING STAINLESS STEEL & NICKEL ALLOYS FOR METALLOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
|
Step | Abrasive | Surface | Lube | Load/Sample | RPM | Time |
1 | 240 Grit | CarbiPro SiC | Water | 6 lbs | 200 | Planar |
2 | 320 Grit | CarbiPro SiC | Water | 6 lbs | 200 | 1:00 |
3 | 400 Grit | CarbiPro SiC | Water | 5 lbs | 200 | 1:00 |
4 | 600 Grit | CarbiPro SiC | Water | 5 lbs | 200 | 1:00 |
5 | 800 Grit | CarbiPro SiC | Water | 5 lbs | 200 | 1:00 |
6 | 1200 Grit | CarbiPro SiC | Water | 5 lbs | 200 | 1:00 |
7 | 1µm Diamond | ProDac Cloth | Lubricant/Extender | 5 lbs | 150 | 2:00 |
8* | FinalFloc Cloth | - | 5 lbs | 150 | 2:00 |
*For the final step, alternate between the alumina and ProPrep colloidal silica at 20 second intervals. Finish with a large dose of alumina when 0:30 seconds remain.
Note: Clean specimen by gently scrubbing the surface with a cotton ball under running water. Repeat until all alumina is removed. Use of an ultrasonic cleaner is highly recommended for samples with high porosity content or intricate geometries.
Our Advanced Method uses one or two steps of SiC grinding paper to initially planarize the mounted specimen. This is followed by a series of "loose" abrasive polishing steps that utilize diamond and alumina suspensions along with polishing cloths. The less aggressive nature of this method preserves the specimen's edge and produces ultra-flat results. This can be critical for analysis such as coating thickness measurements or samples that are examined near the specimen's edge. It is viewed by many that the "advanced" methods of preparation offer superior results and higher consistency when compared to traditional methods.
ADVANCED METHOD FOR PREPARING STAINLESS STEEL & NICKEL ALLOYS FOR METALLOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
|
Step # | Abrasive | Surface | Lube |
Load/Sample |
RPM | Time |
1 | 180 or 240 Grit | CarbiPro SIC | Water | 6 lbs | 200 | Planar |
2 | 320 Grit | CarbiPro SiC | Water | 6 lbs | 200 | 2:00 |
3 | 9µm Diamond | MasterPlan Cloth |
Lubricant/Extender |
5 lbs | 150 | 5:00 |
4 | 3µm Diamond | ProDac Cloth | Lubricant/Extender | 5 lbs | 150 | 3:00 |
5* | FinalFloc Cloth | - | 5 lbs | 150 | 2:00 |
*For the final step, alternate between the alumina and ProPrep colloidal silica at 20 second intervals. Finish with a large dose of alumina when 0:30 seconds remain.
Note: Clean specimen by gently scrubbing the surface with a cotton ball under running water. Repeat until all alumina is removed. Use of an ultrasonic cleaner is highly recommended for samples with high porosity content or intricate geometries.
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MultiSec 10" General Purpose Abrasive Blade - 10/box
MultiSec Metallurgical Abrasive Blade 10" x 1.25" x 0.040" (250mm x 32mm x 1mm) - 10/box Aluminum Oxide Abrasive - Rubber Bond Recommended Applica...
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CoolSec 2 Metallurgical Cutting Fluid with CorrosionGuard - 1 Gallon
CoolSec 2's Metallurgical Cutting Fluid is a concentrated solution that utilizes a powerful CorrosionGuard additive to combat corrosion during the...
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EpoMount Compression Mounting Epoxy 5 lbs
EpoMount Compression Mounting Resin EpoMount is a mineral-filled, glass reinforced epoxy thermoset resin. Provides excellent edge retention which i...
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Silicon Carbide Grinding Paper, 8" with adhesive (PSA) Backing
CarbiPro metallographic silicon carbide grinding paper offers high removal rates on a wide range of materials. This product is 8in (203mm) in diame...
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Silicon Carbide Grinding Paper, 10" with adhesive (PSA) Backing
CarbiPro metallographic silicon carbide grinding paper offers high removal rates on a wide range of materials. This product is 10in (254mm) in diam...
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Silicon Carbide Grinding Paper, 12" with adhesive (PSA) Backing
CarbiPro metallographic silicon carbide grinding paper offers high removal rates on a wide range of materials. This product is 12in (305mm) in diam...
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MasterPlan Polishing Cloth with PSA Backing 8in
MasterPlan metallographic polishing cloth is a very hard, woven cloth with no nap and good durability. This versatile cloth produces excellent fla...
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ProDac Polishing Cloth with PSA Backing 8in
ProDac metallographic polishing cloth is a soft, woven pad. Great for polishing of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Recommended to be used with diam...
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FinalFloc Polishing Cloth with PSA Backing 8in
FinalFloc metallographic polishing cloth has a soft fiber with a long nap making it ideal for final polishing applications on a wide range of mater...
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Diabrasive Premium Polycrystalline Diamond Suspension - All Variants
Diabrasive Premium Polycrystalline Diamond Suspensions are the ultimate solution for polishing of your metallographic specimens. Water soluble for ...
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AlumaPro Polycrystalline Alumina Slurry- 32 oz - 0.05 µm
AlumaPro Polycrystalline Alumina is an optimal polishing slurry for metallographic sample preparation, recommended for polishing of ferrous metals...
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ProPrep 2 Colloidal Silica Suspension - Low-Crystallizing - 32 oz - 0.04 µm
ProPrep 2 Colloidal Silica is an excellent metallographic final polishing suspension for removing the final layer of surface deformation in materia...
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SilverBullet CMP Suspension - 32 oz - 0.05 µm
SilverBullet CMP Polishing Suspension is a unique blend of colloidal silica and polycrystalline alumina particles. The colloidal silica provides ...
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