Norma Astm-E3

Designation: E 3 – 01

Standard Guide for

Preparation of Metallographic Specimens1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 3; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (e) indicates aneditorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope
1.1 The primary objective of metallographic examinations
is to reveal the constituents and structure of metals and their
alloys by means of a light optical or scanning electron
microscope. In special cases, the objective of the examination
mayrequire the development of less detail than in other cases
but, under nearly all conditions, the proper selection and
preparation of the specimen is of major importance. Because of
the diversity in available equipment and the wide variety of
problems encountered, the following text presents for the
guidance of the metallographer only those practices which
experience has shown are generallysatisfactory; it cannot and
does not describe the variations in technique required to solve
individual specimen preparation problems.

E 1077 Test Method for Estimating the Depth of Decarburization of Steel Specimens2
E 1122 Practice for Obtaining JK Inclusion Ratings Using
Automatic Image Analysis2
E 1245 Practice for Determining the Inclusion or SecondPhase Constituent Content of Metals byAutomatic Image
Analysis2
E 1268 Practice for Assessing the Degree of Banding or
Orientation of Microstructures2
E 1558 Guide to Electrolytic Polishing of Metallographic
Specimens2
E 1920 Guide for Metallographic Preparation of Thermal
Sprayed Coatings2
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions used in this practice, refer to Terminology E 7.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific toThis Standard:
3.2.1 castable mount—a metallographic mount generally
made from a two component castable plastic. One component
is the resin and the other hardener. Both components can he
liquid or one liquid and a powder. Castable mounts generally
do not require heat and pressure to cure.
3.2.2 compression mount—a metallographic mount made
using plastic that requires both heat and pressure forcuring.
3.2.3 planar grinding—is the first grinding step in a preparation procedure used to bring all specimens into the same
plane of polish. It is unique to semi or fully automatic
preparation equipment that utilize specimen holders.
3.2.4 rigid grinding disc—a non-fabric support surface,
such as a composite of metal/ceramic or metal/polymer
charged with an abrasive (usually 6 to 15µmdiamond particles), and used as the fine grinding operation in a metallographic preparation procedure.

NOTE 1—For a more extensive description of various metallographic
techniques, refer to Samuels, L. E., Metallographic Polishing by Mechanical Methods, American Society for Metals (ASM) Metals Park, OH, 3rd
Ed., 1982; Petzow, G., Metallographic Etching, ASM, 1978; and VanderVoort, G.,Metallography: Principles and Practice, McGraw Hill, NY, 2nd
Ed., 1999.

1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A90/A 90M Standard Test Method for Weight (Mass) of
Coating on Iron and Steel with Zinc or Zinc-Alloy
Coatings
E 7 Terminology Relating to Metallography2
E 45 Practice for Determining the Inclusion Content of
Steel2
E 340 Test Method for Macroetching Metals and Alloys2
E 407 Test Methods for Microetching Metals and Alloys2
E 768 Practice for Preparing and Evaluating Specimens for...