Chapter/Index: Introduction | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Appendix
| Electropolishing is a well-known technique, mostly used to prepare (inter)metallic samples, because these materials are conducting, too soft for crushing, and easily damaged by conventional ion milling. For instance, 3-mm discs in diameter were punched from alloy sheets of Al-1.5wt% Cu-4.0wt% Mg-0.5wt% Ag and then electropolished in a 1:2 nitric acid:methanol solution (by volume) with applied voltages between 12 and 14V at a temperature of 253K [1]. Table 4488. Examples of electropolishing for TEM sample preparation.
However, electropolished specimen can be contaminated by residues from either the electrolyte used for thinning or the solvents used for cleaning.
[1] Harsh Deep Chopra, The structure of primary strengthening precipitates in an Al-1.5wt% Cu-4.0wt% Mg-0.5wt% Ag alloy, Philosophical Magazine Letters, 73:6, 351-358 (1996).
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