ASTM E2015-04(2014)

Standard Guide for Preparation of Plastics and Polymeric Specimens for Microstructural Examination

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 One of the fundamental objectives of microstructural examination of manufactured materials, especially plastics and polymers, is to gain a more complete understanding of the relationships between the manufacturing processes, the microstructure and texture of the material, and the product's performance (that is, physical, optical, or mechanical properties, or combination thereof). Under nearly all conditions, the proper selection and preparation of the specimen are of major importance.  
4.2 Because of the wide range of available equipment; physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of materials; and the personal element, specimen preparation is an art based upon scientific principles. However, like metallographic specimen preparation, certain methods, practices, and procedures can be used to routinely produce acceptable quality plastic and polymeric specimens for microstructural examination. Acceptable quality means:  
4.2.1 The observed microstructure is free of thermal, mechanical, and chemical alterations, artifacts, damage, or defects resulting from the specimen preparation process.  
4.2.2 A surface finish appropriate for the microscopical techniques to be used.  
4.2.3 The microstructure is reproducibly displayed for a given specimen.  
4.3 The mounting, sectioning, grinding, and polishing procedures in this guide may introduce thermal, mechanical, and chemical stresses on the material being prepared for microstructural examination. Thus, knowledge of the material's physical, mechanical, and chemical properties is of importance in selecting the most appropriate technique(s) to reveal its true microstructure and to minimize the total number of steps needed to produce high quality polished specimens.  
4.4 The general guidelines presented below will need to be modified for each type of plastic or polymer to be prepared. Table X1.1 presents general procedures for preparing plastics and polymers. Tables X1.2-X1.5 present procedures for preparing four ...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers recommended procedures and guidelines for the preparation of plastic and polymeric specimens for microstructural examination by light and electron microscopy.  
1.2 This guide is applicable to most semi-rigid and rigid plastics, including engineering plastics. This guide is also applicable to some non-rigid plastics.  
1.3 The procedures and guidelines presented in this guide are those which generally produce satisfactory specimens. This guide does not describe the variations in techniques required to solve individual problems.  
1.4 Many detailed descriptions of grinding and polishing of plastics and polymers are available (1-7).2  
1.5 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2014
• ICS: 83.140.99 - Other rubber and plastics products
• Technical Committee: E04 - Metallography
• Drafting Committee: E04.01 - Specimen Preparation

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
Designation: E2015 − 04 (Reapproved 2014)
Standard Guide for
Preparation of Plastics and Polymeric Specimens for
1
Microstructural Examination
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2015; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.2 For definitions used in this guide of terms directly
related to plastics and polymers, refer to Engineering Materials
1.1 This guide covers recommended procedures and guide-
Handbook, Vol 2 (8) and Terminology D883.
linesforthepreparationofplasticandpolymericspecimensfor
3.1.3 plastic(s)—a material that contains as an essential
microstructural examination by light and electron microscopy.
ingredient one or more organic polymeric substances of large
1.2 This guide is applicable to most semi-rigid and rigid
molecular weight; is solid in its finished state; and at some
plastics, including engineering plastics. This guide is also
stageinitsmanufactureorprocessingintofinishedarticles,can
applicable to some non-rigid plastics.
be shaped by flow.
1.3 The procedures and guidelines presented in this guide
3.1.4 polymer(s)—a substance consisting of molecules char-
are those which generally produce satisfactory specimens.This
acterized by the repetition (neglecting ends, branch junctions,
guide does not describe the variations in techniques required to
and other minor irregularities) of one or more types of
solve individual problems.
monomeric units.
1.4 Many detailed descriptions of grinding and polishing of
4. Significance and Use
2
plastics and polymers are available (1-7).
4.1 One of the fundamental objectives of microstructural
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
examination of manufactured materials, especially plastics and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
polymers, is to gain a more complete understanding of the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
relationships between the manufacturing processes, the micro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
structure and texture of the material, and the product’s perfor-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
mance (that is, physical, optical, or mechanical properties, or
combination thereof). Under nearly all conditions, the proper
2. Referenced Documents
selection and preparation of the specimen are of major impor-
3
tance.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
4.2 Because of the wide range of available equipment;
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
physical,chemical,andmechanicalpropertiesofmaterials;and
E7 Terminology Relating to Metallography
the personal element, specimen preparation is an art based
upon scientific principles. However, like metallographic speci-
3. Terminology
men preparation, certain methods, practices, and procedures
can be used to routinely produce acceptable quality plastic and
3.1 Definitions:
polymeric specimens for microstructural examination.Accept-
3.1.1 For definitions used in this guide of terms directly
able quality means:
related to metallography, refer to Terminology E7.
4.2.1 The observed microstructure is free of thermal,
mechanical, and chemical alterations, artifacts, damage, or
defects resulting from the specimen preparation process.
1
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE04onMetallography
4.2.2 A surface finish appropriate for the microscopical
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.01 on Specimen Preparation.
techniques to be used.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2014. Published December 2014. Originally
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as E2015 – 04(2009).
4.2.3 The microstructure is reproducibly displayed for a
DOI: 10.1520/E2015-04R14.
given specimen.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
this standard.
4.3 The mounting, sectioning, grinding, and polishing pro-
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
cedures in this guide may introduce thermal, mechanical, and
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
chemical stresses on the material being prepared for micro-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. structural examination. Thus, knowledge of the material’s
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2015 − 04 (2014)
physical, mechanical, and chemical properties is of importance 7
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2015 − 04 (Reapproved 2009) E2015 − 04 (Reapproved 2014)
Standard Guide for
Preparation of Plastics and Polymeric Specimens for
1
Microstructural Examination
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2015; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide covers recommended procedures and guidelines for the preparation of plastic and polymeric specimens for
microstructural examination by light and electron microscopy.
1.2 This guide is applicable to most semi-rigid and rigid plastics, including engineering plastics. This guide is also applicable
to some non-rigid plastics.
1.3 The procedures and guidelines presented in this guide are those which generally produce satisfactory specimens. This guide
does not describe the variations in techniques required to solve individual problems.
2
1.4 Many detailed descriptions of grinding and polishing of plastics and polymers are available (1-7).
1.5 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.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
E7 Terminology Relating to Metallography
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions used in this guide of terms directly related to metallography, refer to Terminology E7.
3.1.2 For definitions used in this guide of terms directly related to plastics and polymers, refer to Engineering Materials
Handbook, Vol 2 (8) and Terminology D883.
3.1.3 plastic(s)—a material that contains as an essential ingredient one or more organic polymeric substances of large molecular
weight; is solid in its finished state; and at some stage in its manufacture or processing into finished articles, can be shaped by flow.
3.1.4 polymer(s)—a substance consisting of molecules characterized by the repetition (neglecting ends, branch junctions, and
other minor irregularities) of one or more types of monomeric units.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 One of the fundamental objectives of microstructural examination of manufactured materials, especially plastics and
polymers, is to gain a more complete understanding of the relationships between the manufacturing processes, the microstructure
and texture of the material, and the product’s performance (that is, physical, optical, or mechanical properties, or combination
thereof). Under nearly all conditions, the proper selection and preparation of the specimen are of major importance.
4.2 Because of the wide range of available equipment; physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of materials; and the
personal element, specimen preparation is an art based upon scientific principles. However, like metallographic specimen
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 on Metallography and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.01 on Specimen Preparation.
Current edition approved May 1, 2009Oct. 1, 2014. Published September 2009December 2014. Originally approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 20042009
as E2015 – 04.04(2009). DOI: 10.1520/E2015-04R09.10.1520/E2015-04R14.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of this standard.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM 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 ----------------------
E2015 − 04 (2014)
preparation, certain methods, practices, and procedures can be used to routinely produce acceptable quality plastic and polymeric
specimens for microstructural examination. Acceptable quality means:
4.2.1 The observed microstructure is free of thermal, mechanical, and chemical alterations, artifacts, damage, or defects
resulting from the specimen preparation process.
4.2.2 A surface finish appropriate for the microscopical techniques to be u
...