White cast irons are hard and brittle wear -resistant metals consisting of pearlite and cementite. White cast irons are manufactured by chilling the surface of the cast mold in order to prevent the formation of graphite during solidification. White cast irons are used for train car wheels, brake shoes, shot blasting nozzles, mill liners, crushers, pump impellers and other abrasion resistant parts.
Specimen preparation is relatively straight forward for white cast iron.
SECTIONING
MAXCUT Abrasive blade (MAX-D or MAX-I series)
MOUNTING
Compression Mounting with Phenolic, Epoxy or Diallyl Phthalate compression mounting resins
POLISHING
Abrasive/surface |
Lubricant |
Force/ sample |
Speed |
Time |
240 grit SiC paper |
Water |
5-10 lbs |
200/200 rpm |
Until plane |
| 3 um DIAMAT diamond on TEXPAN polishing pad | DIALUBE Purple Extender | 5-10 lbs | 200/200 rpm |
3 minutes |
1 um DIAMAT diamond on ATLANTIS polishing pad |
DIALUBE Purple Extender |
200/200 rpm |
5-10 lbs |
2 minutes |
0.05 um Nanometer alumina on TRICOTE polishing pad |
|
5-10 lbs |
100/100 rpm |
30 seconds |
 |
White Iron - Hypo Eutectic, 1000X (DIC), etchant: Picral |
 |
White Iron - Hyper Eutectic, 200X (DIC), etchant: Picral |