Basics of materialographic cutting: Techniques, consumables, and parameters for optimal results

This application note provides an overview of materialographic cutting or sectioning, which is the first step in the metallographic sample preparation process. Different techniques and consumables used for cutting, and how these can influence the quality of the cutting result are outlined. Wet abrasive sectioning is the most commonly used technique for materialographic analyses because it has the lowest deformation during the cutting process. However, curved cuts or complex sample geometries require a saw, and the microtomy technique is used for thin cutting. The application note also includes information on the workflow of wet abrasive cutting, the requirements of the cutting process, and different types of cutting.