Macro-examination of metallographic specimens

Macro-Examination is a method of examination of large regions of the specimen

surface or fractured section with the naked eye or under low magnification. The
following macrostructure details may be studied.
Macro-segregation of the alloying elements or impurities (sulfur in steel & antimony
in lead base babbit)
Large non-metallic inclusions such as oxides, refractory entrapment sulphides slag;
Forging flow lines
Cast grain structure
Physical defects such gas pockets, shrinkage cavities, cracks.
Three different procedures are used for observation various characters of macrostructure
1. Surface examination
2. Macro -etching
. Fracture Examination
1. Surface examination
The sample surface is usually ground (polish is not necessary)
The finish grinding is !rade "#$ paper.
%arge cracks, shrinkage cavities, gas pockets may be investigated.
2. Macro-etching
&acro'etching helps to reveal much information of cast, hot'rolled and forged details.
(ulfur print is a macro'etching techni)ue of steel samples; allow determine sulfur
distribution and segregation
The ground specimen is degreased and washed;
*ieces of photographic paper (bromide) are soaked in #'"+ solution of sulphuric acid for
two minute;
The paper is taken from the solution and excess acid is removed from the surface;
The paper is placed on the sample surface, providing an intimate contact between the
sensitive side of the paper and the sample surface.
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The sulphuric acid reacts with the sulphides in the steel specimen, forming hydrogen
sulphide, which then reacts with the silver bromide of the photographic paper, forming
dark traces corresponding the sulfur segregation;
,fter #'0 min. the paper and specimen are separated and the print paper is rinsed in water
and fixed in hypo solution (#$+) for 0 min.
1inally the print is washed for "$ min and dried.
Macro etching reagents
#$uantities of the components are in %eight parts&
For steels
Crystal structure" -odine2$ parts, *otassium -odide#$ parts, 3ater2$$ parts
1low lines, cracks, porosity: 4ydrochloric acid0$ parts, 3ater0$ parts, boiling for 0'20
min.
'endritic structure" 5opper ammonium chloride 6 parts, 3ater62 parts, -mmersion for
$.0'7 hours.
For stainless and austenitic steels 4ydrochloric acid 20 parts, 8itric acid0 parts,
3ater2$$ parts.
For aluminum alloys 4ydrochloric acid 2$ parts, 8itric acid2 part, 3ater#$$ parts.
For copper alloys #dendritic structure& 1erric chloride #0 parts, 4ydro chloric acid #0
parts, 3ater2$$ parts.
. Fracture Examination
1racture examination is a method relating to observation of the broken surfaces of the
failed part.
The appearance of the surfaces may be a result of brittle fracture, fatigue with its
characteristic fracture, intercrystalline fracture, segregation, slag particles, cracks, starting
from physical defects, rough surface, corrosion and other causes.
1racture examination should take into account the working condition, the history of the
part, possible overloads, applied to the part, misalignments and other working factors.
1racture examination should be supported by other metallography examinations.
(eferences"
,(& &etal 4and 9ook :ol. $6#$$7
&etallography *rinciples and *ractice
,(T& ;elated (tandards
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