I have frequently done this last step to get a perfect finish with austenitic stainless steels, particularly for color etching and for EBSD. Usually, I let the samples rotate about 1 h before washing and drying them to examine the surface and color etching, or doing EBSD. That is usually adequate. The prior steps must be properly done, of course, as the depth of metal removal with 0.05 u, colloidal silicon is low. Hope this helps!

please check answers here:

https://www.researchgate.net/post/In_sample_preparation_for_EBSD_analysis_of_a_titanium-based_alloy_is_vibratory_polishing_a_must_to_obtain_a_very_clear_microstructure

there is useful .ppt

Dear Dr. Michael Bram Kuijer,

you can try the following time, and then optimize it, relating to your specific conditions.

As written in Chapter 1.3 - Microstructural characteristics of 316L, regarding the finishing tratment:

“The finishing applied to the sample used for the EBSD analysis, was a vibratory polishing, which is a common practice for this kind of observations. The procedure was as follows. The sample was mounted on a sample holder of a weight of 400 gr, without additional weight. Then the sample mounting was put in the polisher for 8 hours. The suspension used was standard colloidal silica of a granulometry of 0.04μ𝑚 with an adapted cloth. After the vibratory polishing, the sample was cleaned several times using an ultrasonic cleaner, immersing the sample in alcohol. Then theE BSD analysis was performed.”

In Mechanical multi-scale characterization of metallic materials bynanoindentationtes

PhD Thesis by César Moisés SÁNCHEZ CAMARGO – Uninersitè de Toulose (France) – 2019

Available at: file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/2019_Sanchez_Camargo_Cesar_D.pdf

Best regards, Pierluigi Traverso.

Dear Michael,

It was the practice in our lab for obtaining high-quality EDSD patterns, vibration polishing was carried out using 0.05 um colloidal silica (non-crystallising) for about 12 hours, followed by ultrasonication of samples in ethyl alcohol for minimum 5 minutes (twice) or till the white stains are completely removed.

Regards

Anas

I have frequently done this last step to get a perfect finish with austenitic stainless steels, particularly for color etching and for EBSD. Usually, I let the samples rotate about 1 h before washing and drying them to examine the surface and color etching, or doing EBSD. That is usually adequate. The prior steps must be properly done, of course, as the depth of metal removal with 0.05 u, colloidal silicon is low. Hope this helps!