Conductive and Edge Retaining Embedding Compounds: Influence of Graphite Content in Compounds on Specimen’s SEM and EBSD Performance
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H. Rojacz
Harald Rojacz is Senior Scientist at the Austrian Centre of Competence for Tribology (AC2T research GmbH) with a background in materials science as well as energy and environmental science. Main research activities are wear-resistant coatings, materials degradation due to tribological loading and scanning electron microscopy/EBSD.
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M. Premauer
Markus Premauer is Junior Scientist at the Austrian Centre of Competence for Tribology (AC2T research) with focus on materials engineering, metallography, and microscopic methods. He is leader of the pool Materials Analysis and specialist for metallographic samples preparation, materials analyses and testing.
Abstract
Since marginal sharpness is often an issue in metallographic samples preparation, various mounting compounds are commercially available which address these issues. Nevertheless, the conductivity of such products is not sufficient for electron backscatter diffraction measurements (EBSD) and products which are electrically conductive often result in a lack of marginal sharpness. Therefore, this study is focussed on the modification of commercially available embedding compounds (epoxy based and phenolic based hot embedding compounds) with graphite to increase their electrical conductivity. To verify the applicability of the modified embedding compounds, the austenitic steel grade 1.4301 was chosen for investigation via scanning electron microscopy and EBSD. Results indicate a good performance during SEM-investigations of the epoxy-based resins, even at 0 wt.-% graphite contents, whereas the phenolic resin-based embedding compound is only applicable for SEM-investigation > wt.-5 % of graphite. Best performance at EBSD measurements were achieved with phenolic resin based hot mounting compounds with glass fibres and an addition > 10 wt.-% graphite.
Kurzfassung
Da die Anforderung einer hohen Randschärfe bei der metallographischen Probenpräparation oft eine Herausforderung darstellt, bieten verschiedene im Handel erhältliche Einbettmittel eine Lösung für dieses Problem. Die Leitfähigkeit solcher Produkte ist jedoch nicht ausreichend für die Durchführung von Messungen mittels Elektronenrückstreubeugung (EBSD, electron backscatter diffraction), während Produkte mit ausreichender elektrischer Leitfähigkeit oft Einbußen in Bezug auf die Randschärfe mit sich bringen. Aus diesem Grund befasst sich diese Untersuchung mit der Modifikation kommerziell angebotener Einbettmittel (Warmeinbettmittel auf Basis von Epoxid- und Phenolharz) mit Graphit zur Erhöhung der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit. Zum Nachweis der Anwendbarkeit dieser modifizierten Einbettmittel erfolgten Untersuchungen via Rasterelektronenmikroskopie und EBSD am Beispiel des austenitischen Stahls 1.4301. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass Einbettmittel auf Epoxidharzbasis bei REM-Untersuchungen ein gutes Verhalten sogar bei Graphitanteilen von 0 Gew.-% zeigen, während die Einbettmittel auf Basis von Phenolharz für REM-Untersuchungen nur mit Zugaben > 5 Gew.- % Graphit geeignet sind. Die besten Ergebnisse bei den EBSD-Messungen wurden mit dem Einbettmittel auf Phenolharzbasis mit Glasfaserfüllstoff und Graphitzugaben > 10 Gew.-% erzielt.
About the authors
Harald Rojacz is Senior Scientist at the Austrian Centre of Competence for Tribology (AC2T research GmbH) with a background in materials science as well as energy and environmental science. Main research activities are wear-resistant coatings, materials degradation due to tribological loading and scanning electron microscopy/EBSD.
Markus Premauer is Junior Scientist at the Austrian Centre of Competence for Tribology (AC2T research) with focus on materials engineering, metallography, and microscopic methods. He is leader of the pool Materials Analysis and specialist for metallographic samples preparation, materials analyses and testing.
Acknowledgements
This work was funded by the Austrian COMET Program (Project K2 InTribology, no. 872176) and carried out at the “Excellence Centre of Tribology”. Authors are grateful to Ing. DI Hannes Pahr (voestalpine Böhler welding Austria) for his feedback and intense discussions.
Danksagung
Diese Arbeit wurde im Rahmen des österreichischen COMET-Programms (Projekt K2 In-Tribology, Nr. 872176) gefördert und am Kompetenzzentrum für Tribologie durchgeführt. Die Autoren bedanken sich bei Ing. DI Hannes Pahr (voestalpine Böhler Welding Austria) für sein Feedback und intensive Gespräche.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Contents
- Editorial
- Conductive and Edge Retaining Embedding Compounds: Influence of Graphite Content in Compounds on Specimen’s SEM and EBSD Performance
- Atom Probe Tomography of the Oxide Layer of an Austenitic Stainless CrMnN-Steel
- Failure analysis
- Failure Analysis of a Diesel Engine Crankshaft
- Picture of the Month
- Picture of the Month
- PM-News
- PM-News
- Meeting Diary
- Meeting Diary
Articles in the same Issue
- Contents
- Editorial
- Conductive and Edge Retaining Embedding Compounds: Influence of Graphite Content in Compounds on Specimen’s SEM and EBSD Performance
- Atom Probe Tomography of the Oxide Layer of an Austenitic Stainless CrMnN-Steel
- Failure analysis
- Failure Analysis of a Diesel Engine Crankshaft
- Picture of the Month
- Picture of the Month
- PM-News
- PM-News
- Meeting Diary
- Meeting Diary
