1、Designation: E2014 11Standard Guide onMetallographic Laboratory Safety1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2014; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses in
2、dicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This guide outlines the basic safety guidelines to be usedin a metallographic laboratory. Safe working habits are dis-cussed for various tasks performed in a m
3、etallographic labo-ratory.1.2 The sections appear in the following order:SectionScope 1Referenced Documents 2Terminology 3Significance and Use 4General 5Heat Treating 6Specimen Preparation/Sectioning 7Specimen Mounting 8Mechanical Grinding/Polishing 9Chemical Safety 10Electrolytic Polishing/Etching
4、11Sulfur Printing 12Laboratory Ventilation/Fume Hoods 13Chemical Spills 14Photography 15X ray/Electron Microscopy 16Laboratory Ergonomics 17Disposal of Residues 18Keywords 191.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibil
5、ity of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic SpecimensE7 Terminology Relating to MetallographyE340 T
6、est Method for Macroetching Metals and AlloysE407 Practice for Microetching Metals and AlloysE883 Guide for ReflectedLight PhotomicrographyE1180 Practice for Preparing Sulfur Prints for Macrostruc-tural EvaluationE1558 Guide for Electrolytic Polishing of MetallographicSpecimens3. Terminology3.1 Defi
7、nitionsAll terms used in this guide are eitherdefined in Terminology E7 or are discussed in 3.2.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 agreement statea government body that has beengranted regulatory authority over by-product materials andradiation-producing devices by the United S
8、tates NuclearRegulatory Commission (USNRC).4. Significance and Use4.1 This guide is intended as a summary of safety practicesin the metallography laboratory. It can be used as a trainingreference for those new to the field of metallography and as arefresher to those who are experienced.4.2 This guid
9、e is not intended to be inclusive of all safetyconcerns encountered in a metallographic laboratory. Severalbooks that provide safety information are available (1-14).34.3 Before operating any equipment, it is advisable to readand understand the accompanying manuals and to follow anyspecified safety
10、guidelines.4.4 Material safety data sheets (MSDS) for chemicals beingused in a laboratory should be on file and readily accessible.When working with any chemicals, especially for the first time,one should review the MSDS supplied by the manufacturer andfollow any safety guidelines suggested. The mos
11、t current andapplicable MSDS should be on file for a given product orchemical.5. General5.1 Before operating any equipment, read and understandthe accompanying manuals and follow any specified safetyguidelines.5.2 It is strongly recommended to read and understandMaterial Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) fo
12、r chemicals used in thelaboratory. When working with any chemical, especially forthe first time, review the MSDS supplied by the manufacturer1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E04 on Metallographyand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.17 on Criteria for Metallo-grap
13、hic Laboratory Evaluation and Safety.Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2011. Published December 2011. Originallyapproved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E2014 05. DOI:10.1520/E2014-11.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Serv
14、ice at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end ofthis standard.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C7
15、00, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.and follow any safety and environmental guidelines provided.Each laboratory is responsible for ensuring that the MSDS theyaccess is up-to-date.5.3 Easily accessible emergency eyewash and showers arerequired where chemicals are manipulated and used.
16、 Consultthe applicable regulatory agencies.5.4 It is recommended to complete a Standard OperatingProcedure (SOP), including a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) forevery task or practice performed, listing any potential hazardsand describing the safe operating practice to mitigate thosehazards.5.5 Be aware o
17、f the nature of the specimen material sub-mitted for examination to ensure that it in itself does not posea safety risk during storage or sample preparation. For ex-ample, see 7.5.6. Heat Treating6.1 The use of Personal Protective Equipment is stronglyrecommended. The minimum protection includes saf
18、ety shoes(with metatarsal if required), safety glasses, and heat resistantgloves. When utilizing furnaces at high temperatures, 1038C(1900F), a heat resistant suit and full face shield is welladvised in addition to the gloves and glasses.6.2 Furnace Load WeightsThe weight limit that can besafely man
19、ually loaded into a furnace and unloaded at tem-perature should be established by the laboratory manager. Theweight limit for manual loading is determined for specificprocedures. This may increase or decrease depending onavailability of equipment to aid in loading or unloadingmaterial; configuration
20、 of samples, which could make loadingand unloading more or less risky; or the ability to utilize morethan one technician in loading and unloading, or combinationsthereof.6.3 Furnace Loading and UnloadingWhen working witha furnace that requires removal of a thermocouple prior toloading, handle the th
21、ermocouple with heat resistant gloves ortongs.6.3.1 Material should be loaded into the furnace with tongs.The tongs used need to have the proper configuration for thespecimen to be loaded. Properly maintain the tongs.6.3.2 When several small or oddly shaped specimens are tobe heat treated, a tray or
22、 wire basket may facilitate loading andunloading.6.3.3 The surface of an oil quench bath can ignite duringquenching. Be cautious to avoid being burnt. Do not lean overthe oil quench tank when pieces are being quenched, and coverthe tank as quickly as possible to extinguish any flames.6.4 Salt bath f
23、urnaces are set up in accordance with themanufacturers instructions, along with state and local envi-ronmental regulations. Exhaust systems are required for gasesgenerated. Some government organizations may regulate ex-haust system specifications.6.4.1 Personal protective equipment requirements incl
24、ude aheat resistant apron, sleeve protection, safety glasses, safetyshoes (with metatarsal if required), and a heat resistant full faceshield.6.4.2 The start up of a salt bath has to be done by a properlytrained technician.6.4.3 When long cycles with little attention are performed, itis recommended
25、to use temperature control devices withalarms with limits and shutdown capability.6.4.4 Keep all water or moisture away from the salt bath.Clean pieces to remove cutting fluids or any other residuals.After cleaning, dry all the pieces thoroughly.6.4.5 Clean and dry baskets before each use. Salt drie
26、d onthe basket can absorb moisture.6.4.6 To avoid electric shock, do not place metal, baskets, orsludging tools between electrodes while the power is on.6.4.7 Wear a full face mask when filling furnace with drysalts. An appropriate respiratory mask may also be required asper the applicable MSDS.6.4.
27、8 Keep the work area clean. Do not keep boxes, pallets,or other highly flammable items in the work area. Keep floorsclean to avoid slips, trips, or falls.6.4.9 Keep salt containers tightly closed to avoid moistureadsorption by the dry salt.6.4.10 Establish periodic checks and safe procedures forelec
28、trodes, sludging, rectifying, and the use of graphite rods.6.5 Asummary of recommended safe practices can be foundin Table 1.7. Specimen Sectioning and Rough Grinding (15)7.1 Safety glasses need to be worn when operating section-ing equipment. Do not wear ties, loose fitting clothing, andjewelry as
29、they can become tangled in the moving parts ofequipment. Auditory protection (ear plugs or other protection)may be needed if the noise level exceeds recommendedguidelines or regulatory requirements. Ensure that there issufficient lighting to clearly see the work area.7.2 The cutting blade of a band
30、saw is exposed and can bedangerous. Use the appropriate blade type and cutting settingsfor an effortless cut. Let the blade do the cutting and do notforce the part into the blade. A guiding device, such as a blockof wood, can be used to maneuver flat and stable specimensthereby reducing the possibil
31、ity of hand injury. Round stock,pipe and curved specimens that can be destabilized by thedownward drag of the blade need to be securely clamped in anappropriate jig or vice to prevent severe injury from an ejectedspecimen or broken blade.7.3 The major danger from abrasive saw operation is fromflying
32、 debris from a broken wheel. This danger is normallyeliminated in modern equipment by shielding the cutting areafrom the operator.Acutoff saw must never be operated withouta shield in place. Use cut-off wheels rated for the RPM of thecut-off machine.TABLE 1 A Summary of Recommended and DiscouragePra
33、ctices When Heat treatingRecommended Practice Discouraged PracticeDevelop SOPs and JSAs Lift specimens $ 10 kgWearsafety shoes Lean body over bathsafety glasses or face shieldheat resistant gloves Leave tank contents uncoveredUse tongs, tray, or wire basket whenhandling samples Contact electrodes wi
34、th conductiveKeep specimens and surrounding materialarea free of moisture and debrisE2014 1127.4 Sectioning often results in the formation of burrs on theedges of the specimen. These burrs can be quite sharp andpotentially dangerous. Burrs can be removed by filing orgrinding. Wear the appropriate ap
35、proved cut resistant gloveswhen handling cut specimens.7.5 Wet rough grinding is always preferred over dry grind-ing because of the reduced amount of dust and heat damage tothe specimen. The dusts generated from grinding any metal area health hazard. Metals such as beryllium, magnesium, lead,mangane
36、se, and silver, are extremely toxic and must be groundwet under a ventilation hood. An appropriate respiratory maskand a full face shield is also advisable.7.6 Recommended procedures for the metallographic prepa-ration of various materials can be found in Methods E3.8. Specimen Mounting8.1 A safety
37、concern while using older mounting presseswithout integrated cooling is the potential of burns fromcontact with hot equipment or specimens. Newer mountingpresses with integrated cooling systems do not typically havethese issues. Wear insulated gloves to protect hands if needed.8.2 Prolonged contact
38、with many mounting materials cancause irritation to the eyes and skin. Consult the product labeland MSDS of the specific mounting material, and use therecommended practices and protective equipment.8.3 When using castable resins, it is recommended to work(mixing, pouring and setting) in a fume hood.
39、 The corrosive,explosive, and carcinogenic properties vary widely with dif-ferent castable resin components, and users need to be aware ofthe most current and applicable MSDS information and ofoccupational health and safety issues relating to each compo-nent separately and mixed.9. Mechanical Grindi
40、ng/Polishing9.1 Injury to operators hands is very common duringgrinding or polishing. For manual grinding or polishing ofsmall or irregularly-shaped specimens consider mounting themto accommodate handling.9.2 For semi-automatic and automatic procedures, ensurethat all moving parts have come to rest
41、before mounting orremoving specimen holders or before cleaning the equipment.Lock-out procedures may need to be applied prior to thecleaning of equipment.9.3 When using grinding or polishing equipment, do notwear ties, loose fitting jewelry, or loose fitting clothing, whichcould become entangled wit
42、h the equipment.9.4 Some of the lubricating liquids and polishing suspen-sions used during grinding and polishing are flammable so becautious. Read the specific manufacturers product label andmost current and applicable MSDS before using such products.9.5 Dried colloidal silica may contain crystalli
43、ne silica,which is considered as carcinogenic. If an accumulation ofdried colloidal silica is to be removed, wear the required safetyequipment and in particular a face mask with the appropriatefilter. A dust mask is not sufficient. It is preferable to clean upcolloidal silica while it is still wet.1
44、0. Chemical Safety10.1 Before using or mixing any chemicals, read andunderstand all product labels and pertinent and most currentMSDS. The appropriate type of protective clothing will dependon the task being performed and the chemicals used. (as per theapplicable MSDS).10.1.1 The hazards involved wi
45、th handling chemicals arenumerous and often specific to the chemicals being used. It isadvisable that users are aware if there are dangers (with orwithout an odor) that are visible or invisible, with immediate orlong term consequences.10.2 The safe use, storage, and disposal of chemicalsbecome more
46、complex whenever they are combined or mixed.Experimentation with new combinations of chemical reagentsis not recommended unless conducted by a person knowledge-able in chemistry. Table 2 shows some chemicals oftenencountered in a metallography laboratory known to be incom-patible with one another.10
47、.2.1 It is recommended to only mix small quantities andto store them in glass-stopper bottles. Exceptions includefluorides and strong alkaline solutions, which must be stored inpolyethylene or another appropriate container recommendedby the manufacturer for that specific chemical. Replace evapo-rate
48、d chemicals, if needed, to maintain filled capacity.10.2.2 It is a recommended practice to not store incompat-ible chemicals in the same cabinet.10.2.3 Ventilated (connected to a fume hood), fire or explo-sion proof cabinets may be required. Consult the most currentMSDS for storage recommendations.1
49、0.2.4 It is a good practice to dispose of spent or exhaustedchemicals promptly, following all applicable regulations. Keeptrack of the shelf life of all chemicals.10.3 Specific Chemical Precautions. Paragraphs 10.3.1-10.3.12 give specific safety situations that are often encoun-tered in a metallographic laboratory and known to be danger-ous.10.3.1 The addition of sulfuric acid to water produces anextremely exothermic (heat generated) reaction. The solutionmust be cooled during mixing. While cooling, the acid must beslowly poured into the water or solvent with constant stir
