ASTM E1180-03e1

Standard Practice for Preparing Sulfur Prints for Macrostructural Examination

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The sulfur print reveals the distribution of sulfur as sulfide inclusions in the specimen. The sulfur print complements macroetch methods by providing an additional procedure for evaluating the homogeneity of a steel product.
Sulfur prints of as-cast specimens generally reveal the solidification pattern and may be used to assess the nature of deoxidation, that is, rimming action versus killed steel sulfur distributions.
Sulfur prints will reveal segregation patterns, including refilled cracks, and may reveal certain physical irregularities, for example, porosity or cracking.
The nature of metal flow, such as in various forging operations, can be revealed using sulfur prints of specimens cut parallel to the metal flow direction.
The sulfur print method is suitable for process control, research and development studies, failure analysis, and for material acceptance purposes.
The intensity of the sulfur print is influenced by the concentration of sulfur in the steel, the chemical composition of the sulfide inclusions, the aggressiveness of the aqueous acid solution, and the duration of the contact printing between the acid soaked emulsion coated paper and the ground surface of the specimen (this time is the order of seconds rather than minutes). Very low sulfur content steels will produce too faint an image to be useful for macrostructural evaluations. Selection of appropriate printing practices including selection of type of emulsion coated media, acid type and strength, will yield satisfactory prints. Very faint images in the sulfur print can be made more visible by scanning the sulfur print into a PC, and using a photo editor to increase the color saturation. Steels with compositions that produce predominantly titanium or chromium sulfides will not produce useful images.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides information required to prepare sulfur prints (also referred to as Baumann Prints) of most ferrous alloys to reveal the distribution of sulfide inclusions.
1.2 The sulfur print reveals the distribution of sulfides in steels with bulk sulfur contents between about 0.002 and 0.40 weight percent.
1.3 Certain steels contain complex sulfides that do not respond to the test solutions, for example, steels containing titanium sulfides or chromium sulfides.
1.4 The sulfur print test is a qualitative test. The density of the print image should not be used to assess the sulfur content of a steel. Under carefully controlled conditions, it is possible to compare print image intensities if the images are formed only by manganese sulfides.
1.5 The sulfur print image will reveal details of the solidification pattern or metal flow from hot or cold working on appropriately chosen and prepared test specimens.
1.6 This practice does not address acceptance criteria based on the use of the method.
1.7 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. For specific precautionary statements, see Section 9.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-May-2003
• ICS: 71.060.10 - Chemical elements
• Technical Committee: E04 - Metallography
• Drafting Committee: E04.01 - Specimen Preparation

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E1180-03 - Standard Practice for Preparing Sulfur Prints for Macrostructural Examination
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM E1180-08 - Standard Practice for Preparing Sulfur Prints for Macrostructural Evaluation
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM E2014-17 - Standard Guide on Metallographic Laboratory Safety
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003

Standards Content (Sample)

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
e1
Designation:E1180–03
Standard Practice for
1
Preparing Sulfur Prints for Macrostructural Examination
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1180; 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
e NOTE—Editorial changes were made throughout in October 2003.
1. Scope E 7 Terminology Relating to Metallography
E 340 Test Method for Macroetching Metals and Alloys
1.1 This practice provides information required to prepare
E 381 Method of Macroetch Testing Steel Bars, Billets,
sulfur prints (also referred to as Baumann Prints) of most
Blooms, and Forgings
ferrous alloys to reveal the distribution of sulfide inclusions.
E 407 Test Methods for Microetching Metals and Alloys
1.2 The sulfur print reveals the distribution of sulfides in
steels with bulk sulfur contents between about 0.010 and 0.40
3. Terminology
weight percent.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this prac-
1.3 Certain steels contain complex sulfides that do not
tice, see Terminology E 7.
respond to the test solutions, for example, steels containing
titanium sulfides or chromium sulfides.
4. Summary of Practice
1.4 The sulfur print test is a qualitative test. The density of
4.1 The sulfur print provides a means for macroscopic
the print image should not be used to assess the sulfur content
evaluation of the sulfur distribution in steels and cast irons by
of a steel. Under carefully controlled conditions, it is possible
contact printing using photographic paper soaked in an aque-
to compare print image intensities if the images are formed
ous acid solution, for example, sulfuric acid, citric acid, or
only by manganese sulfides.
acetic acid.
1.5 The sulfur print image will reveal details of the solidi-
fication pattern or metal flow from hot or cold working on
NOTE 1—No longer are there available emulsion coated half weight
appropriately chosen and prepared test specimens. fiber based papers suitable for sulfur printing. Emulsion coated single
weight fiber base paper is not readily available. Emulsion coated double
1.6 This practice does not address acceptance criteria based
weight fiber base paper is available, and is preferable to emulsion coated
on the use of the method.
single weight resin coated paper.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.2 The test specimen is usually a disk or rectangular
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
section, such as used in macroetch evaluations, cut from an
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
as-cast or wrought specimen with either a transverse or
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
longitudinal orientation. The specimen is freshly ground
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
smooth and cleaned to remove cutting oils, scale, abrasives, or
precautionary statements, see Section 9.
other contaminents. The specimen should be at room tempera-
2. Referenced Documents
ture when sulfur printed.
2
4.3 A sheet of photographic paper with (usually) a matte
2.1 ASTM Standards:
surface finish of appropriate size is soaked in the dilute
E 3 Methods of Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
aqueous acid solution, any excess liquid removed, and the
emulsion side of the paper is placed on the ground surface of
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 on Metallog-
the specimen. After a suitable time, the paper is removed,
raphy and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.01 on Selection and
washed in water, fixed, washed again in water, and dried as flat
Preparation of Samples.
Current edition approved May 10, 2003. Published July 2003. Originally
as possible.
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as E 1180 – 94 (1998).
4.4 The distribution of sulfur in the specimen is revealed as
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
a mirror image on the photographic paper as darkly colored
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
areas of silver sulfide embedded in the emulsion.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
e1
E1180–03
5. Significance and Use lightly colored, even if sulfides are not present in the steel.
Such etchants should not be used for this purpose.
5.1 The sulfur print reveals the distribution of sulfur as
6.6 If chromium replaces some of the man
...