ASTM_E_2142_-_08_2015.pdf

Designation:E214208(Reapproved 2015)Standard Test Methods forRating and Classifying Inclusions in Steel Using theScanning Electron Microscope1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2142;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 indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers procedures to obtain particlesize distribution,chemical classification,and Test MethodsE45 ratings of inclusions in steels using an automated scanningelectron microscope(SEM)with X-ray analysis and automaticimage analysis capabilities.1.2 There are three discrete methods described.Method 1 isthe SEM analog of Test Method E45,which uses imageanalysis and light microscopy to produce automated TestMethods E45 ratings.Method 2 produces similar ratings basedpredominantly on sorting inclusions by chemistry into thetraditional classes defined in Test Methods E45.Method 3 isrecommended when explicit detail is needed on particularinclusion types,not necessarily defined in Test Methods E45,such as to verify the composition of inclusions in inclusion-engineered steel.Method 3 reports stereological parameterssuch as volume or number fraction,rather than Test MethodsE45 type ratings.1.3 This test method deals only with the recommended testmethods and nothing in it should be construed as defining orestablishing limits of acceptability for any grade of steel orother alloy where the method is appropriate.1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility 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 MetallographyE45 Test Methods for Determining the Inclusion Content ofSteelE766 Practice for Calibrating the Magnification of a Scan-ning Electron MicroscopeE768 Guide for Preparing and Evaluating Specimens forAutomatic Inclusion Assessment of SteelE1245 Practice for Determining the Inclusion or Second-Phase Constituent Content of Metals by Automatic ImageAnalysisE1508 GuideforQuantitative AnalysisbyEnergy-Dispersive Spectroscopy2.2 Adjuncts:ANSI/IEEE STD 759 IEEE Standard Test Procedure forSemiconductor X-Ray Energy Spectrometers33.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms used in this testmethod,see Terminology E7.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 Analysis Rules3.2.1.1 acquisition analysis rulesinclude the criteria toterminate X-ray collection(counts or time,or both),the list ofelements to be analyzed,the number of fields or particles to beanalyzed,morphologies of particles from which spectra will becollected,etc.(see Appendix X1 for a more complete listing oftypical Acquisition Rules).3.2.1.2 post-acquisition analysis rulesdefine ratios ofX-ray intensities or elemental compositions required to identify1These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 onMetallography and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.11 on X-Rayand Electron Metallography.Current edition approved Oct.1,2015.Published November 2015.Originallyapproved in 2001.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as E214208.DOI:10.1520/E2142-08R15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,Inc.(IEEE),445 Hoes Ln.,P.O.Box 1331,Piscataway,NJ 08854-1331,http:/www.ieee.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 an inclusion as belonging to a particular chemical classificationand,for Methods 1 and 2 herein,define the main inclusionclass(A,B,or C)to which each chemical classificationbelongs.3.2.2 chemical classificationdefined compositional cat-egories in which inclusions are placed according to the analysisrules.Categories may be broad(for example,sulfide,aluminate,silicate)or more precise(for example,calciumsulfide,calcium silicate,anorthite,etc.).3.2.3 critical aspect ratiothe aspect ratio of a singleinclusion that defines the boundary between“globular”and“elongated”.3.2.4 discontinuous stringertwo or more Type C or threeor more Type B inclusions aligned in a plane parallel to the hotworking axis and offset from the stringer centerline by no morethan 15 m,with a separation of 40 m between any twonearest neighbor inclusions.3.2.5 stringeran individual