ASTM E2015-04

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Designation:E2015–04
Standard Guide for
Preparation of Plastics and Polymeric Specimens for
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Microstructural Examination
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2015; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.3 plastic(s)—a material that contains as an essential
ingredient one or more organic polymeric substances of large
1.1 This guide covers recommended procedures and guide-
molecular weight; is solid in its finished state; and at some
linesforthepreparationofplasticandpolymericspecimensfor
stageinitsmanufactureorprocessingintofinishedarticles,can
microstructural examination by light and electron microscopy.
be shaped by flow.
1.2 This guide is applicable to most semi-rigid and rigid
3.1.4 polymer(s)—asubstanceconsistingofmoleculeschar-
plastics, including engineering plastics. This guide is also
acterized by the repetition (neglecting ends, branch junctions,
applicable to some non-rigid plastics.
and other minor irregularities) of one or more types of
1.3 The procedures and guidelines presented in this guide
monomeric units.
are those which generally produce satisfactory specimens.This
guide does not describe the variations in techniques required to
4. Significance and Use
solve individual problems.
4.1 One of the fundamental objectives of microstructural
1.4 Many detailed descriptions of grinding and polishing of
2 examination of manufactured materials, especially plastics and
plastics and polymers are available (1-7).
polymers, is to gain a more complete understanding of the
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
relationships between the manufacturing processes, the micro-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
structure and texture of the material, and the product’s perfor-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
mance (that is, physical, optical, or mechanical properties, or
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
combination thereof). Under nearly all conditions, the proper
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
selection and preparation of the specimen are of major impor-
2. Referenced Documents tance.
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4.2 Because of the wide range of available equipment;
2.1 ASTM Standards:
physical,chemical,andmechanicalpropertiesofmaterials;and
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
the personal element, specimen preparation is an art based
E 3 Practice of Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
upon scientific principles. However, like metallographic speci-
E 7 Terminology Relating to Metallography
men preparation, certain methods, practices, and procedures
3. Terminology can be used to routinely produce acceptable quality plastic and
polymeric specimens for microstructural examination.Accept-
3.1 Definitions:
able quality means:
3.1.1 For definitions used in this guide of terms directly
4.2.1 The observed microstructure is free of thermal, me-
related to metallography, refer to TerminologyE7.
chanical,andchemicalalterations,artifacts,damage,ordefects
3.1.2 For definitions used in this guide of terms directly
resulting from the specimen preparation process.
related to plastics and polymers, refer to Engineering Materials
4.2.2 A surface finish appropriate for the microscopical
Handbook, Vol 2 (8) and Terminology D 883.
techniques to be used.
4.2.3 The microstructure is reproducibly displayed for a
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 on
given specimen.
Metallography and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.01 on Sam-
4.3 The mounting, sectioning, grinding, and polishing pro-
pling, Specimen Preparation, and Photography.
cedures in this guide may introduce thermal, mechanical, and
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2004. Published November 2004. Originally
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as E 2015–99.
chemical stresses on the material being prepared for micro-
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The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
structural examination. Thus, knowledge of the material’s
this standard.
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physical, mechanical, and chemical properties is of importance
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM in selecting the most appropriate technique(s) to reveal its true
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
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