The Basics of Materialographic Sectioning

Metallographic cutting or sectioning usually marks the first step of the metallographic sample preparation process. In most cases it is necessary because the part or solid body is too large for the following metallographic grinding and polishing steps carried out on a laboratory scale. Depending on part geometries and material hardness as well as employed analytical techniques, different cutting techniques and consumables are used. The aim of this article is to explain the principle of materialographic cutting as well as the consumables and parameters which can influence the cutting result.