Comparison of Materialographic Preparation Methods for Nickel Bicrystals to be used in Thermal Grooving Experiments

摘要

The aim of this study is the optimal preparation of the surfaces of nickel bicrystals to be used in thermal grooving experiments. For this purpose, it must be ensured that the surface is smooth, flat and distortion-free in the region around the grain boundary. We will present different approaches to the preparation of a nickel bicrystal, namely mechanical, chemical and electrolytic polishing as well as ion cross-section milling. The different preparation metho.ds will be evaluated and compared with regard to the requirements for the prepared surface and their advantages and disadvantages. In order to evaluate the quality of the prepared surface, images will be obtained using optical light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, laser scanning microscopy and atomic force microscopy. It was found that broad ion beam milling was the only method to satisfactorily meet all the criteria for the prepared surface.