How to take out sample from mounting resin?
Mounting the sample before metallographic grinding polishing has many advantages, not only to provide protection for the user and the sample, but also to use automatic grinding and polishing machines for grinding and polishing, improving efficiency. However, some errors may occur during the mounting process, such as sample inversion or tilt, which prevents effective measurement of the area that needs to be observed. Especially in failure analysis, due to the small number of samples, it is impossible to find the sample to mount again.
According to the experience of metallographic sample preparation, Maimet offers 3 methods to solve those problems.
First method, try to remove the sample from the mounting resin. Most mounting resins are hard and brittle, and the easiest way to do this is to clamp the mounted sample in a vise and apply pressure to it until the mounting compound ruptures and the specimen can be removed (pictured below). Note that, during this process, goggles are required to avoid eye damage from debris. Also, you should consider whether your sample is fragile or thin - fragile and thin specimens can be damaged by the above methods and are best removed from the mount by cutting.
Figure 1- Sample before mounting
Figure 2- Mounted Sample with MetPhe-100 mounting resin
Figure 3- Samples in vise
Figure 4- Taking out sample from mounting resin
Second method, for thermoplastic mounting resins, can be melted by heating to remove the sample, but, in this case, the temperature sensitivity of the sample to be considered, too high temperature will affect the microstructure of the material. As shown below
Figure 1- Sample in thermoplastic mounting resin
Figure 2- After heating, remove the sample
A third method can be used to remove the sample from the mounting resin using the solute. Some types of mounting resins can be softened by the use of solvents such as acetone. However, this requires safety precautions.
In conclusion, when removing a sample from a mounting resin, the sensitivity of the sample to pressure, temperature or solvent, as well as the type of mounting resin used, should be considered.
MAIMET Co., Ltd has always been committed to the development and production of high-quality metallographic equipment, consumables and hardness testers to ensure consistent and repeatable results for metallographic specimen preparation and hardness testing. After 15 years of development, it has become a leader in metallographic sample preparation and material microstructure analysis.
According to the experience of metallographic sample preparation, Maimet offers 3 methods to solve those problems.
First method, try to remove the sample from the mounting resin. Most mounting resins are hard and brittle, and the easiest way to do this is to clamp the mounted sample in a vise and apply pressure to it until the mounting compound ruptures and the specimen can be removed (pictured below). Note that, during this process, goggles are required to avoid eye damage from debris. Also, you should consider whether your sample is fragile or thin - fragile and thin specimens can be damaged by the above methods and are best removed from the mount by cutting.
Figure 2- Mounted Sample with MetPhe-100 mounting resin
Figure 3- Samples in vise
Figure 4- Taking out sample from mounting resin
Second method, for thermoplastic mounting resins, can be melted by heating to remove the sample, but, in this case, the temperature sensitivity of the sample to be considered, too high temperature will affect the microstructure of the material. As shown below
Figure 2- After heating, remove the sample
A third method can be used to remove the sample from the mounting resin using the solute. Some types of mounting resins can be softened by the use of solvents such as acetone. However, this requires safety precautions.
In conclusion, when removing a sample from a mounting resin, the sensitivity of the sample to pressure, temperature or solvent, as well as the type of mounting resin used, should be considered.
MAIMET Co., Ltd has always been committed to the development and production of high-quality metallographic equipment, consumables and hardness testers to ensure consistent and repeatable results for metallographic specimen preparation and hardness testing. After 15 years of development, it has become a leader in metallographic sample preparation and material microstructure analysis.
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