Lab 01
Lab 01
• What is metallography
• Importance of metallography
• Processing of sample for metallography
• Various emery paper kinds and how they are used
• The significance of sample etching
• Various etching reagent kinds for various materials
• The microscope we use for microscopy
Introduction: The science of analyzing and ascertaining the composition and underlying
structure of the constituents in metals, alloys, and materials is known as metallography.
Manipulating the material development process is a primary objective of material science and
engineering. Without understanding the microstructure of any given material, we are unable to
assess whether or not our desired features are realized.
However, as material scientists and engineers, we must forecast a material's behaviour before using
it for any purpose. The microstructure of a material aids in this prediction of its characteristics.
Section is the method by which we obtain the necessary specimen. To obtain the desired size
specimen, various cutting instruments and techniques are employed. For example, a hacksaw, a
mechanical saw, a chop saw, a table feed saw, a digital position etc.
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Fig 01. Sectioning view of different material
2.Mounting:
Mounting is required if any material sample that is supplied is too little to be utilized for
metallography.
Mounting is the technique of using another material, such as plastic or bakelite, to enlarge a
small specimen to the necessary size.
The little sample is placed in the center and is enlarged to the desired size using bakelite or
plastic.
3.Grinding:
Any specimen that has been sectioned to the necessary size usually has a rough cutting surface.
The process of turning uneven surfaces into smooth ones is called grinding. Because micro
structure cannot be discovered until the surface is plane, we are unable to use any specimen for
metallography that does not have a plane surface.
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Various emery paper tapes are utilized for grinding. Emery paper in the following grades: 60, 100,
120, 900, 600, 800, 1200, etc.
The finer the particle content of emery paper, the higher the grade.
Low grade emery paper is used at the beginning of grinding to smooth off the specimen’s
surface. Because the initial roughness is significant, lower-grade emery paper is needed because
it has less finer particles, which helps.
There are some rules which must have to be followed while grinding:
i. Low grade emery paper must be used for initial grinding with higher grade gradually
replacing the lower grade.
ii. A particle’s rubbing direction ought to be adhered to.
iii. Each time the emery paper grade is changed, the sample must spin 90 degrees
4.Polishing:
Polishing is done to give the surfaces a glossy mirror sheen after grinding them to a plain surface.
The specimen's surface is polished using a velvet cloth and abrasive chemicals (diamond paste,
Al2O3 powder), which help to generate a flawless, glossy surface that is necessary to clearly view
the microstructure.
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5.Etching:
Because of the disordered atomic arrangement, which indicates increased internal energy of the
constituent atoms and makes them more reactive, grain border areas are the most reactive parts of
any material.
The specimen is polished and then immersed in the etching reagent for a predetermined amount of
time. This causes the grain boundaries to undergo a chemical reaction and corrosion, which makes
the grain boundaries more visible under a microscope.
Since different materials won't undergo chemical reactions in the same reagent, different materials
require different etching reagents.
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Discussion:
Without a question, metallography is a crucial step in material science and engineering since it
gives us information about a material's microstructure and aids in our ability to forecast its
characteristics. The metallography steps must be carried out with sincerity in order to obtain a clear
picture of the microstructure we want. The sample must be perfectly sectioned. Grading guidelines
must be adhered to. Etching duration and reagent must be carefully considered.