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Copper Alloys / Brass / Bronze - Metallographic Sample Preparation

Copper alloys like brass and bronze can be prepared for metallographic analysis easily efficiently using OnPoint Abrasives' consumable supplies and procedures. Below is a guide for preparing copper alloy samples containing <90% Cu.

Sectioning: Section specimen with TitanSec abrasive blade or multi-purpose diamond blade.

Mounting: For best results, compression mount specimen using PhenoMount phenolic powder. Phenolic resins are available in black, green and red color. 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 COPPER 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*

0.05µm Alumina

0.05µm ProPrep Colloidal Silica

 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 COPPER 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*

0.05µm Alumina

0.05µm ProPrep Colloidal Silica

 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.

Filters

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TitanSec Abrasive Blade
$210.00 - $210.00
$210.00
$210.00 - $210.00
$210.00

TitanSec 10in Abrasive Blade - 10/box

TitanSec Metallurgical Abrasive Blade 10in x 1.25in x 0.040in (250mm x 32mm x 1mm) - 10/box Silicon Carbide Abrasive - Rubber Bond Recommended Appl...

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$210.00 - $210.00
$210.00
$210.00 - $210.00
$210.00
phenolic mount black phenomount phenocure
phenolic mounting resin black phenomount phenocure
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00

PhenoMount Black Phenolic 5 lbs

PhenoMount Black is a compression mounting powder for mounting metallographic specimens. This thermoset resin is used to obtain good edge retentio...

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$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
phenolic mounting resin red phenomount phenocure
phenolic mounting resin green phenomount phenocure
$33.00 - $33.00
$33.00
$33.00 - $33.00
$33.00

PhenoMount Red Phenolic 5 lbs

PhenoMount Red is a compression mounting powder for mounting metallographic specimens. This thermoset resin is used to obtain good edge retention ...

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$33.00 - $33.00
$33.00
$33.00 - $33.00
$33.00
phenolic mounting resin green phenomount phenocure
phenolic mounting resin green phenomount phenocure
$33.00 - $33.00
$33.00
$33.00 - $33.00
$33.00

PhenoMount Green Phenolic 5 lbs

PhenoMount Green is a compression mounting powder for mounting metallographic specimens. This thermoset resin is used to obtain good edge retention...

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$33.00 - $33.00
$33.00
$33.00 - $33.00
$33.00
$29.00 - $129.00
$29.00 - $129.00
$29.00 - $129.00
$29.00

Silicon Carbide Grinding Paper, 8" with adhesive (PSA) Backing

In stock

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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$29.00 - $129.00
$29.00 - $129.00
$29.00 - $129.00
$29.00
$23.00 - $99.00
$23.00 - $99.00
$23.00 - $99.00
$23.00

Silicon Carbide Grinding Paper, 8" with Plain Backing

In stock

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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$23.00 - $99.00
$23.00 - $99.00
$23.00 - $99.00
$23.00
10in SiC grinding paper PSA - 60 grit
CarbiPro silicon carbide grinding paper
$40.00 - $180.00
$40.00 - $180.00
$40.00 - $180.00
$40.00

Silicon Carbide Grinding Paper, 10" with adhesive (PSA) Backing

In stock

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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$40.00 - $180.00
$40.00 - $180.00
$40.00 - $180.00
$40.00
CarbiPro silicon carbide grinding paper
$30.00 - $139.00
$30.00 - $139.00
$30.00 - $139.00
$30.00

Silicon Carbide Grinding Paper, 10" with Plain Backing

In stock

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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$30.00 - $139.00
$30.00 - $139.00
$30.00 - $139.00
$30.00
$55.00 - $230.00
$55.00 - $230.00
$55.00 - $230.00
$55.00

Silicon Carbide Grinding Paper, 12" with adhesive (PSA) Backing

In stock

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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$55.00 - $230.00
$55.00 - $230.00
$55.00 - $230.00
$55.00
$38.00 - $160.00
$38.00 - $160.00
$38.00 - $160.00
$38.00

Silicon Carbide Grinding Paper, 12" with Plain Backing

In stock

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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$38.00 - $160.00
$38.00 - $160.00
$38.00 - $160.00
$38.00
1 micron polycrystalline diamond suspension
polycrystalline diamond suspensions
$0.00 - $0.00
$0.00
$40.00 - $395.00
$40.00 - $395.00
$40.00

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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$0.00 - $0.00
$0.00
$40.00 - $395.00
$40.00 - $395.00
$40.00
MasterPlan metallographic polishing cloth
MasterPlan Polishing Cloth with PSA Backing 8in
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00

MasterPlan Polishing Cloth, 8in (203mm), PSA

MasterPlan is a durable, hard, woven polishing cloth made from coated polyester, designed for superior performance in metallographic sample prepara...

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$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
ProDac Polishing Cloth
ProDac Polishing Cloth with PSA Backing 12in
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00

ProDac Polishing Cloth, 8in (203mm), PSA

ProDac is a soft, woven polishing cloth made from synthetic satin, designed for exceptional performance in intermediate to fine polishing stages on...

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$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
FinalFloc Polishing Cloth
FinalFloc Polishing Cloth with PSA Backing 8in
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00

FinalFloc Polishing Cloth, 8in (203mm), PSA

FinalFloc is a soft, long-nap polishing cloth made from synthetic fibers, designed for exceptional final polishing across a wide range of materials...

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$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
ProPrep 2 colloidal silica 32oz bottle
$0.00 - $0.00
$0.00
$38.00
$38.00 - $38.00
$38.00

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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$0.00 - $0.00
$0.00
$38.00
$38.00 - $38.00
$38.00
ProPrep Colloidal Silica 32oz from OnPoint Abrasives
$0.00 - $0.00
$0.00
$34.00
$34.00 - $34.00
$34.00

ProPrep Colloidal Silica Suspension - 32 oz - 0.04 µm

ProPrep Colloidal Silica is an excellent metallographic final polishing suspension for removing the final layer of surface deformation in material...

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$0.00 - $0.00
$0.00
$34.00
$34.00 - $34.00
$34.00
Polycrystalline Alumina Suspension AlumaPro MasterPrep Nanometer
$70.00 - $70.00
$70.00
$70.00 - $70.00
$70.00

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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$70.00 - $70.00
$70.00
$70.00 - $70.00
$70.00
$70.00 - $70.00
$70.00
$70.00 - $70.00
$70.00

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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$70.00 - $70.00
$70.00
$70.00 - $70.00
$70.00
PlanarMesh polishing cloth, 12in, magnetic steel
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00

PlanarMesh Polishing Cloth, 8in (203mm), PSA

PlanarMesh is a unique metal mesh pad that provides excellent flatness on hard materials while preserving the specimen's edge. Specifically designe...

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$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
$50.00 - $50.00
$50.00
PlanarMesh polishing cloth, 12in, magnetic steel
$80.00 - $80.00
$80.00
$80.00 - $80.00
$80.00

PlanarMesh Polishing Cloth, 10in (254mm), PSA

PlanarMesh is a unique metal mesh pad that provides excellent flatness on hard materials while preserving the specimen's edge. Specifically designe...

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$80.00 - $80.00
$80.00
$80.00 - $80.00
$80.00
PlanarMesh polishing cloth, 12in, magnetic steel
$140.00 - $140.00
$140.00
$140.00 - $140.00
$140.00

PlanarMesh Polishing Cloth, 12in (305mm), PSA

PlanarMesh is a unique metal mesh pad that provides excellent flatness on hard materials while preserving the specimen's edge. Specifically designe...

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$140.00 - $140.00
$140.00
$140.00 - $140.00
$140.00
PlanarMesh polishing cloth, 12in, magnetic steel
$60.00 - $60.00
$60.00
$60.00 - $60.00
$60.00

PlanarMesh Polishing Cloth, 8in (203mm), Magnetic Rubber Back

PlanarMesh is a unique metal mesh pad that provides excellent flatness on hard materials while preserving the specimen's edge. Specifically designe...

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$60.00 - $60.00
$60.00
$60.00 - $60.00
$60.00
PlanarMesh polishing cloth, 12in, magnetic steel
$100.00 - $100.00
$100.00
$100.00 - $100.00
$100.00

PlanarMesh Polishing Cloth, 10in (254mm), Magnetic Rubber Back

PlanarMesh is a unique metal mesh pad that provides excellent flatness on hard materials while preserving the specimen's edge. Specifically designe...

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$100.00 - $100.00
$100.00
$100.00 - $100.00
$100.00
PlanarMesh polishing cloth, 12in, magnetic steel
$160.00 - $160.00
$160.00
$160.00 - $160.00
$160.00

PlanarMesh Polishing Cloth, 12in (305mm), Magnetic Rubber Back

PlanarMesh is a unique metal mesh pad that provides excellent flatness on hard materials while preserving the specimen's edge. Specifically designe...

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$160.00 - $160.00
$160.00
$160.00 - $160.00
$160.00