Searching for the Limits of RIMAPS Technique Application

FUENTES N.; FAVRET E.; CANZIAN A.

MICROSCOPY & MICROANALYSIS

Cambridge University Press

Año: 2008 vol. 14 p. 572 - 573

1431-9276

The RIMAPS (Rotated Image with Maximum Average Power Spectrum) technique allows finding the main directions of any surface topography and describing it by simple geometrical figures. This technique has already been applied to the study of metallic surfaces and biological samples. But the experimental procedures followed to prepare the analyzed samples in previous works were always correct. In order to search for the limits of application of this imaging technique, three sets of copper samples were prepared following an adequate metallographic procedure to reveal the grains (case 1) and two uncompleted (case 2) or inadequate (case 3) procedures. In the first case, after mechanical grinding using silicon carbide with granulometry 1 micron and 6 microns, the copper surfaces were electrolytically polished and chemically attacked with Cl3Fe. In the second case the electrolytic polished was not used, and in the last case only mechanical grinding with granulometry 6 microns was used before the chemical attack. It was not found limitations to the systematic use of RIMAPS technique with digitized images obtained using light microscopes at low magnification, and inadequate procedures. This technique continues to be a simple, friendly and strong tool for metallographic analysis of surfaces.