Copper and copper alloys are widely used in industrial production, and metallographic examination is a commonly used method for quality control. Due to the wide range of copper and alloy components, from pure copper to brass, bronze, and high-strength copper alloys, the material is soft and has good ductility. Therefore, during the preparation of metallographic samples, it is easy to cause scratches and damage, making it very difficult to remove these scratches. If chemical polishing method is used alone, pitting corrosion is prone to occur. Usually, mechanical methods and a combination of chemical polishing and mechanical polishing are used for preparation, in order to achieve more ideal results more easily. The QMAXIS metallographic sample preparation plan for copper is for your reference.

After being eroded by a solution of [50ml distilled water+50ml ammonia water+1-2 drops of H2O2]
Microscopic photos of commercial pure copper at a magnification of 180X under bright field conditions

    The specific preparation steps for copper samples are as follows:

    Cutting: QMAXIS metallographic cutting machine, with grinding wheel blades selected for cutting non-ferrous metal materials

    Embedding: Hot press inlay machine, using QMAXIS black phenolic resin powder as the inlay material

    Mechanical sample preparation: Metpol-A

    Note: Comp. refers to the rotation of the sample fixture and the grinding disc in the same direction, Contra refers to the reverse rotation of the sample fixture and the grinding disc

    Etching: Use (50ml distilled water+50ml ammonia water+1-2 drops of H2O2) solution for etching

    Attention: When polishing with diamond polishing paste/liquid, add QMAXIS DiaFluid water-based polishing lubricant as a lubricant and dispersant. After each polishing step, it is necessary to clean with alcohol or distilled water and dry the sample with compressed air. After the nitric acid alcohol solution corrodes, the sample needs to be washed clean with distilled water first, then cleaned with anhydrous alcohol, and dried with compressed air or a hair dryer.

    Can the above preparation methods help you solve the sample preparation problem? For more technical guidance, please contact QMAXIS customer service or application engineers.