Metallurgical Sample Preparation Cutting Supplies

Metallurgical sample preparation starts with cutting and selecting the right cut-off wheel to produce specimens that are in perfect condition for the next preparation steps. The most commonly used abrasives for the cutting of different materials are silicon carbide and aluminum oxide. Silicon carbide is suitable for non-ferrous metals whereas aluminum oxide is preferred for ferrous metals. Hard wheels are used for cutting soft materials while soft wheels are recommended for cutting harder materials. Diamond cut-off wheels are available in metal bonded wheels for cutting brittle materials such as ceramics or minerals, while resin bonded wheels are used for more ductile materials such as sintered carbides or composites containing predominantly hard phases.