Metallurgical Sample Preparation

Metallurgical sample preparation starts with cutting and selecting the right cut-off wheel to produce specimens that are in perfect condition for the next preparation steps. After cutting the specimen the next step is mounting. The aim of mounting is to handle small or odd shaped specimens and to protect fragile materials, thin layers, or coating during preparation as well as to provide good edge retention. There are two types of mounting: hot or cold. The most important properties of hot mounting compound are hardness, shrinkage, and viscosity. Cold mounting is preferred for samples which are sensitive to damage from heat and pressure (like coatings, PCB, etc.). In order to obtain scratch free surfaces without deformation, successive material remove by abrasives is necessary. Grinding is the next stage after sectioning.