Basic Metallography

Jenny Francis
University of Washington
Metallography is used to confirm heat treatments, identify microstructural flaws
and failure modes, look at interfaces, predict a known alloys properties, etc.. It
can not be used to identify an unknown metal because metals have many
microstructures in common and within the same family, such as steel, the
similarity is even greater. High quality sample preparation is the key to successful
metallography.
A detailed description of sample preparation can be found in truers Metalog
!uide and "ecos Metallography #rinciples and #rocedures. $his is a very basic
outline of the steps involved in sample prep.
$he sample may need be cut to e%pose the surface that is to be studied and then
mounted. $here are several types of mounts and choosing the right one depends
on factors such as si&e or shape of the sample, type of material, and number of
samples. Hot and cold mounts are the two basic types with several resins
available for each.
$he grinding and polishing step is ne%t and can be a very long process. It is
important that the sample is cleaned e%tremely well between each grade of
emery paper or polishing wheel. 'leaning between grades of emery paper is
done with tap water and between polishing wheels it is done first with tap water
then with deioni&ed water and finally with deioni&ed water or methanol in an
ultrasonic bath.
(tching is the final step and the formula for the etchant depends on the metal.
(tchant recipes are found in the truers and "eco books. $iming is critical if
overetched a sample may have to be repolished beginning with the grinding step.
)oth truers and "eco will provide copies of their books free.
#hone numbers* truers +,-./ 01-2331-4 "eco +.-./5062776-