Standard Test Method for Determining Volume Fraction by Systematic Manual Point Count

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method is based upon the stereological principle that a grid with a number of regularly arrayed points, when systematically placed over an image of a two-dimensional section through the microstructure, can provide, after a representative number of placements on different fields, an unbiased statistical estimation of the volume fraction of an identifiable constituent or phase (1, 2, 3).3  
This test method has been described  (4) as being superior to other manual methods with regard to effort, bias, and simplicity.
Any number of clearly distinguishable constituents or phases within a microstructure (or macrostructure) can be counted using the method. Thus, the method can be applied to any type of solid material from which adequate two-dimensional sections can be prepared and observed.  
A condensed step-by-step guide for using the method is given in Annex A1.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a systematic manual point counting procedure for statistically estimating the volume fraction of an identifiable constituent or phase from sections through the microstructure by means of a point grid.
1.2 The use of automatic image analysis to determine the volume fraction of constituents is described in Practice E1245.
1.3  This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

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09-Apr-2002
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn. Contact ASTM
International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 562 – 02
Standard Test Method for
Determining Volume Fraction by Systematic Manual Point
1
Count
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 562; 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.
INTRODUCTION
This test method may be used to determine the volume fraction of constituents in an opaque
specimen using a polished, planar cross section by the manual point count procedure.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method describes a systematic manual point 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this prac-
counting procedure for statistically estimating the volume tice, see TerminologyE7.
fraction of an identifiable constituent or phase from sections 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
through the microstructure by means of a point grid. 3.2.1 point count—the total number of points in a test grid
1.2 The use of automatic image analysis to determine the that fall within the microstructural feature of interest, or on the
volumefractionofconstituentsisdescribedinPracticeE 1245. feature boundary; for the latter, each test point on the boundary
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the is one half a point.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.2.2 point fraction—the ratio, usually expressed as a per-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- centage, of the point count of the phase or constituent of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- interest on the two-dimensional image of an opaque specimen
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. to the number of grid points, which is averaged over n fields to
produce an unbiased estimate of the volume fraction of the
2. Referenced Documents
phase or constituent.
2.1 ASTM Standards: 3.2.3 stereology—themethodsdevelopedtoobtaininforma-
2
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
tion about the three-dimensional characteristics of microstruc-
2
E7 Terminology Relating to Metallography tures based upon measurements made on two-dimensional
2
E 407 Practice for Microetching Metals and Alloys
sections through a solid material or their projection on a
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to surface.
3
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
3.2.4 test grid—a transparent sheet or eyepiece reticle with
E 1245 Practice for Determining the Inclusion or Second a regular pattern of lines or crosses that is superimposed over
Phase Constituent Content of Metals by Automatic Image
the microstructural image for counting microstructural features
2
Analysis of interest.
3.2.5 volume fraction—the total volume of a phase or
constituent per unit volume of specimen, generally expressed
as a percentage.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 on Metallog-
3.3 Symbols:
raphy and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.14 on Quantitative
Metallography.
Current edition approved April 10, 2002. Published June 10, 2002. Originally
published as E 562 – 76. Last previous edition E 562 – 01.
P = total number of points in the test grid.
T
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01. th
P = point count on the i field.
3 i
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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E562–02
TABLE 1 95 % Confidence Interval Multipliers
P
P (i) =
i
P
3 100 = percentage of grid points, in the
No. of Fields n t No. of Fields n t
P
T
th
constituent observed on the i field.
5 2.776 19 2.101
6 2.571 20 2.093
n = number of fields counted.
n
7 2.447 21 2.086
¯
P = 1
p
8 2.365 22 2.080
P ~i! = arithmetic average of P (i).
( p
p
n
i 5 1 9 2.306 23 2.074
s = estimate of the standard deviation (s) (see (Eq
10 2.262 24 2.069
3) in Section 10).
11 2.228 25 2.064
95 % CI = 95 % confidence interval 12 2.201 26 2.060
13 2.179 27 2.056
= 6ts/ n (see Note 1).
=
14 2.160 28 2.052
t = a multiplier related to the number of fields
15 2.145 29 2.048
examined and used in conjunction with the 16 2.131 30 2.045
17 2.120 40 2.020
standard deviation of the measurements to de-
18 2.110 60 2.000
termine the 95% CI.
` 1.960
V = volume fraction of the constituent or phase
V
expressed as a percentage (see (Eq 5) in Section
10).
% RA = % relative accuracy, a measure of the statistical
6. Apparatus
¯
precision = (95 % CI/ P ) 3 100.
p
6.1 Test Grid, consisting of a specified number of equally
NOTE 1— Table 1 gives the appropriate multiplying factors (t) for any
spacedpointsformedbytheinte
...

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