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).  
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 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 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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Publication Date
30-Sep-2011
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ASTM E562-08e1 - Standard Test Method for Determining Volume Fraction by Systematic Manual Point Count
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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´1
Designation: E562 – 08
Standard Test Method for
Determining Volume Fraction by Systematic Manual Point
1
Count
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E562; 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
´ NOTE—A1.10 was editorially corrected in August 2011.
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. The same
measurements can be achieved using image analysis per Practice E1245.
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 Terminology E7.
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
volume fraction of constituents is described in Practice E1245. feature boundary; for the latter, each test point on the boundary
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as is one half a point.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this 3.2.2 point fraction—the ratio, usually expressed as a per-
standard. centage, of the point count of the phase or constituent of
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the interest on the two-dimensional image of an opaque specimen
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the to the number of grid points, which is averaged over n fields to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- produce an unbiased estimate of the volume fraction of the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- phase or constituent.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.2.3 stereology—themethodsdevelopedtoobtaininforma-
tion about the three-dimensional characteristics of microstruc-
2. Referenced Documents
tures based upon measurements made on two-dimensional
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: sections through a solid material or their projection on a
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
surface.
E7 Terminology Relating to Metallography 3.2.4 test grid—a transparent sheet or eyepiece reticle with
E407 Practice for Microetching Metals and Alloys
a regular pattern of lines or crosses that is superimposed over
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to the microstructural image for counting microstructural features
Determine the Precision of a Test Method of interest.
E1245 Practice for Determining the Inclusion or Second-
3.2.5 volume fraction—the total volume of a phase or
Phase Constituent Content of Metals by Automatic Image constituent per unit volume of specimen, generally expressed
Analysis
as a percentage.
3.3 Symbols:
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 on
Metallography and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.14 on Quanti-
P = total number of points in the test grid.
T
tative Metallography.
th
P = point count on the i field.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2008. Published November 2008. Originally i
´1 P
P (i) =
approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E562 – 05 . DOI: i
P
3 100 = percentage of grid points, in the
10.1520/E0562-08E01.
P
T
2
th
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
constituent observed on the i field.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
n = number of fields counted.
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 ----------------------
´1
E562 – 08
n TABLE 1 95 % Confidence Interval Multipliers
¯
P = 1
p
P ~i! = arithmetic average of P (i).
(
p p No. of Fields n t No. of Fields n t
n
i 5 1
s = estimate of the standard deviation (s) (see (Eq
5 2.776 19 2.101
3) in Section 10).
6 2.571 20 2.093
7 2.447 21 2.086
95 % CI = 95 % confidence interval
8 2.365 22 2.080
= 6ts/ n (see Note 1).
=
9 2.306 23 2.074
t = a multiplier related to the number of fields
10 2.262 24 2.069
examined and used in conjunction with the 11 2.228 25 2.064
12 2.201 26 2.060
standard deviation of the measurements to de-
13 2.179 27 2.056
termine the 95% CI
...

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