ARL 3460 Metals Analyzer
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Technical Description
2
SPEMIS Probe
For steels, the sample taking can be greatly simplified with a
SPEMIS
probe that can take liquid
metal directly from the casting. The sample obtained has the following form:
cut
here
useful surface
for analysis
3.2
Surface Preparation - Sample Preparation Machines
It is essential to use an appropriate machine in order to obtain a clean flat reproducible surface.
We recommend the use of the following sample preparation machine types:
Disk Sander
This is a sander with a rotary abrasive disk.
Some machines have two disks; which is convenient where a coarse grain disk is used for
preliminary surface preparation (roughing), and a fine grain for final sample surface preparation.
abrasive
disk
This surface preparation method is the quickest way to prepare
iron
,
nickel
and
cobalt
samples
(as well as a few coppers). The sample must be thick enough to allow the operator to hold without
the risk of injury to his fingers.
The abrasive paper disk, based with aluminium and silicon oxide mixed with resin (Al/Si = 1:47) is
usually suitable. A fine grain disk of "60" or "80" is recommended for the final finish and a coarse
grain disk of “40” for initial rough grinding.
For the analysis of soluble-insoluble aluminium, abrasive disks based with zirconium must be used
to avoid cross contamination.
Note:
Copper, aluminium, lead, zinc, magnesium, pure or even very low alloyed, and
generally all soft materials, cannot be properly prepared using abrasive paper disks.
