3 Things to Look For in a Metallographic Sample Preparation Company

Metallurgical testing is a type of analysis that looks at the microstructure of materials. Before this testing can begin, sample preparation must occur first. It will be completed how it's supposed to if you work with a sample preparation company that offers certain things.

1. Refined Sectioning Processes

The first stage in performing metallographic sample preparation is sectioning (cutting) materials to create desirable samples. This must be done perfectly to prevent samples from being too large and too small. You need to work with a metallographic sample preparation company that has refined its sectioning processes.

Before sectioning ever begins, the sample preparation company should study the properties of your materials going through metallurgical testing and fine-tune their sectioning to support these characteristics perfectly. You also want to ensure the sample preparation company has different sectioning methods at their disposal, including sawing and fracturing. Then they can pick and choose depending on what will yield the best results. 

2. Protective Mounting 

When small materials are involved in metallurgical testing, you want to make sure they have some means of protection. Then you can be certain the samples won't damage before metallurgical testing being performed by a professional company.

You'll feel better about this when you find a sample preparation company that uses protective mounting with all of their samples. Then the edges of your samples will be better protected by resins. You can also worry less about contamination happening when your samples are handled before metallurgical testing.

3. Multi-Level Polishing

Sometimes even when the right protective measures are taken, there are deformations on samples. That's not good for getting optimal microstructural details back from metallurgical testing. You can account for possible deformations by hiring a sample preparation company that offers multi-level polishing.

The company will polish multiple layers of the sample being studied to remove possible deformations that are present. That can ensure your samples are pristine before being studied. This type of polishing is probably warranted when working with fragile materials that tend to damage easily even when the right handling procedures are performed at every stage.

If you're hoping to conduct accurate and meaningful metallurgical testing on materials, spend time making sure sample preparation is done right. You'll want to find a metallographic sample preparation company that has the right processes set up and equipment to facilitate them perfectly. Then you'll have no question about how metallurgical testing will go.