ASTM E883-99

Standard Guide for Reflected-Light Photomicrography

SCOPE
1.1 This guide outlines various suggested methods which may be followed in the photography of metals and materials with the reflected-light microscope. Methods are included for preparation of prints and transparencies in black-and-white and in color, using both direct rapid and wet processes.  
1.2 Descriptive material is provided where necessary to clarify procedures. References are cited where detailed descriptions may be helpful. Guidelines are suggested to yield photomicrographs of typical subjects and, to the extent possible, of atypical subjects as well. Information is included concerning techniques for the enhanced display of specific material features.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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. Specific precautionary statements are given in Appendix X1.7.
1.4 The sections appear in the following order:  Contents Section Magnification 4 Reproduction of photomicrographs 5 Optical systems 6 Illumination sources 7 Illumination of specimens 8 Focusing 9 Filters for photomicrography 10 Illumination techniques 11 Photographic materials 12 Photographic exposure 13 Photographic processing 14 Suggestions for visual use of metallographic microscopes X1 Guide for metallographic photomacrography X2 Video image printing X3

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Apr-1999
• ICS: 37.080 - Document imaging applications
• Technical Committee: E04 - Metallography
• Drafting Committee: E04.03 - Light Microscopy

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E883-02 - Standard Guide for Reflected-Light Photomicrography
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E1181-02(2023) - Standard Test Methods for Characterizing Duplex Grain Sizes
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E235/E235M-23 - Standard Specification for Type K and Type N Mineral-Insulated, Metal-Sheathed Thermocouples for Nuclear or for Other High-Reliability Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E2014-17 - Standard Guide on Metallographic Laboratory Safety
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E112-13(2021) - Standard Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM C295/C295M-19 - Standard Guide for Petrographic Examination of Aggregates for Concrete
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E1382-97(2023) - Standard Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size Using Semiautomatic and Automatic Image Analysis
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D807-18 - Standard Practice for Assessing the Tendency of Industrial Boiler Waters to Cause Embrittlement (USBM Embrittlement Detector Method)
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B577-19 - Standard Test Methods for Detection of Cuprous Oxide (Hydrogen Embrittlement Susceptibility) in Copper
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E1268-19 - Standard Practice for Assessing the Degree of Banding or Orientation of Microstructures
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM C1721-22 - Standard Guide for Petrographic Examination of Dimension Stone
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E768-99(2018) - Standard Guide for Preparing and Evaluating Specimens for Automatic Inclusion Assessment of Steel
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F1854-15 - Standard Test Method for Stereological Evaluation of Porous Coatings on Medical Implants
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F561-19 - Standard Practice for Retrieval and Analysis of Medical Devices, and Associated Tissues and Fluids
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM C856/C856M-20 - Standard Practice for Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 883 – 99
Standard Guide for
1
Reflected–Light Photomicrography
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 883; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
3
1. Scope E 175 Terminology of Microscopy
E 768 Practice for Preparing and Evaluating Specimens for
1.1 This guide outlines various suggested methods which
2
Automatic Inclusion Assessment of Steel
may be followed in the photography of metals and materials
with the reflected-light microscope. Methods are included for
3. Significance and Use
preparation of prints and transparencies in black-and-white and
3.1 This guide is useful for determining appropriate condi-
in color, using both direct rapid and wet processes.
tions for photomicrography of metals (see Methods E 3) and
1.2 Descriptive material is provided where necessary to
materials with the reflected-light microscope and the subse-
clarify procedures. References are cited where detailed de-
quent processing of the photographic materials. It is limited to
scriptions may be helpful. Guidelines are suggested to yield
these applications.
photomicrographs of typical subjects and, to the extent pos-
sible, of atypical subjects as well. Information is included
4. Magnification
concerning techniques for the enhanced display of specific
4.1 Photomicrographs shall be made at preferred magnifi-
material features.
cations, except in those special cases where details of the
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
microstructure are best revealed by unique magnifications.
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.2 The preferred magnifications for general use in making
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
photomicrographs, expressed in linear units, are: 253,503,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
753, 1003, 2003, 2503, 4003, 5003, 7503, 8003, and
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
10003.
tionary statements are given in X1.7.
4.3 Magnifications are normally calibrated using a stage
1.4 The sections appear in the following order:
micrometer. When precision calibration is required, a certified
Contents Section
stage micrometer shall be used.
Magnification 4
Reproduction of photomicrographs 5
5. Reproduction of Photomicrographs
Optical systems 6
Illumination sources 7
5.1 Photomicrographs submitted for publication shall be
Illumination of specimens 8
enlarged or reduced to the nearest standard magnification, if
Focusing 9
Filters for photomicrography 10
necessary. A milli- or micrometre marker shall be superim-
Illumination techniques 11
posed on the photomicrograph to indicate magnification, in a
Photographic materials 12
contrasting tone. The actual linear magnification of the print
Photographic exposure 13
Photographic processing 14
shall be stated in the caption.
Suggestions for visual use of metallographic microscopes X1
5.2 Photomicrograph captions should include basic back-
Guide for metallographic photomacrography X2
ground information (for example, material identification,
Video image printing X3
etchant, mechanical or thermal treatment details) and should
2. Referenced Documents
briefly describe what is illustrated so that the photomicrograph
2.1 ASTM Standards:
can stand independent of the text.
2
E 3 Methods of Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
5.3 Arrows or other markings, in a contrasting tone, shall be
2
E 7 Terminology Relating to Metallography
used to designate specific features in a photomicrograph. Any
marking used shall be referenced in the caption.
6. Optical Systems
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-4 on Metalogra-
6.1 The microscope objective forms an image of the speci-
phyand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.01on Sampling, Specimen
mens in a specific plane within the microscope called the
Preparation, and Photography.
Current edition approved April 10, 1999. Published July 1999. Originally
published as E 883 – 82. Last previous edition E 883 – 94.
2
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
E 883
intermediary plane. Objectives are available in increasing order with th
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