As a metallographic trainer, I conduct metallographic sample preparation demonstrations for students in the laboratory every day. Metallographic sample preparation cannot be separated from grinding and polishing, and countless metallographic sandpaper have been used. After each demonstration, students always ask me:; Teacher, where did you buy these metallographic sandpaper? How do you think you easily ground it& Rdquo;


To be honest, the students saw that I was able to prepare metallographic samples very easily, quickly, and well. In addition to my own experience in making metallographic samples, the students have a lot of experience. Besides the saying that practice makes perfect, there is also one thing the students were right to ask, which is that metallographic sandpaper must be better to use!

    Of course, there are many brands and types of metallographic sandpaper in the market, and each has its own unique quality. How to choose the suitable metallographic sandpaper for oneself? On the one hand, it is necessary to select the appropriate metallographic sandpaper based on the purpose of sample preparation, and on the other hand, it is necessary to combine the two based on one's own cost budget level.


I personally choose metallographic sandpaper based on this principle.


The metallographic sandpaper used for general teaching does not have high requirements for sample grinding and polishing. It only grinds the surface of the sample flat without obvious scratches, and can clearly see the organization under a 100X-200X optical microscope, distinguish the morphology of the organization, and determine whether it is qualified. This sample preparation only requires ordinary domestic metallographic sandpaper, which is cheap and has no problem with application, making it very suitable. Just pay attention when purchasing, metallographic sandpaper should be produced by a legitimate manufacturer.


For failure analysis, heat treatment, quality control, or material research, there are high requirements for the preparation of metallographic samples. The sample surface must be free from deformation, scratches, and the true microstructure must be restored. The analysis data must be accurate and high-definition tissue images must be provided. It is required to observe the sample under a high-power microscope or electron microscope, and for the preparation of metallographic samples with high requirements, high-quality metallographic sandpaper must be used. I personally prefer imported metallographic sandpaper, such as the metallographic sandpaper from American Standard Music, which has very good quality. The finer ones can reach a size of 4000, with very strong grinding ability and are not easy to embed, and have been in use all along. Of course, imported metallographic sandpaper is much more expensive than domestically produced sandpaper, so you need to choose according to your own needs and economic affordability.

    Regarding where to purchase, domestic metallographic sandpaper can be purchased directly on Alibaba or Taobao. Of course, it would be even better if you have a fixed supplier, without the need for price comparison and quality evaluation. And I directly choose suppliers who have been cooperating with me for many years to import metallographic sandpaper. The quality and delivery time are guaranteed, and the price is also reasonable. For example, I purchased QMAXIS metallographic sandpaper from Chain Metallography Company in the United States. The above is a unified response to students' friends' questions. If you need a detailed understanding, you can communicate separately after class.