{"id":1268,"date":"2026-05-20T21:50:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T01:50:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/?p=1268"},"modified":"2026-05-20T21:50:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T01:50:46","slug":"gb-t-3488-1-2014-iso-4499-12008-hardmetals-metallographic-determination-of-microstructure-part-1-photomicrographs-and-description","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/pa\/2026\/05\/20\/gb-t-3488-1-2014-iso-4499-12008-hardmetals-metallographic-determination-of-microstructure-part-1-photomicrographs-and-description\/","title":{"rendered":"GB\/T 3488.1-2014 \/ ISO 4499-1:2008 \u2014 Hardmetals Metallographic Determination of Microstructure Part 1: Photomicrographs and Description"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Standard:<\/strong> GB\/T 3488.1-2014 \/ ISO 4499-1:2008<\/p>\n<p><strong>Title:<\/strong> Hardmetals &#8211; Metallographic Determination of Microstructure &#8211; Part 1: Photomicrographs and Description<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u0a2a\u0a4d\u0a30\u0a15\u0a3e\u0a38\u0a3c\u0a3f\u0a24:<\/strong> 2014-12-05 &nbsp;|&nbsp; <strong>Implemented:<\/strong> 2015-08-01<\/p>\n<p><strong>Replaces:<\/strong> GB\/T 3488-1983<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>1. Scope<\/h2>\n<p>This part specifies the metallographic determination method for the microstructure of hardmetals (cemented carbides).<\/p>\n<h2>2. Normative References<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>ISO 3878:1983<\/strong> \u2014 Hardmetals \u2014 Vickers hardness test<\/li>\n<li><strong>ISO 4499-2<\/strong> \u2014 Hardmetals \u2014 Metallographic determination of microstructure \u2014 Part 2: Measurement of WC grain size<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>3. Terms and Definitions<\/h2>\n<h3>3.1 \u03b1-phase<\/h3>\n<p>Tungsten carbide (WC) grains.<\/p>\n<h3>3.2 \u03b2-phase<\/h3>\n<p>Binder phase (e.g., based on Co, Fe, Ni).<\/p>\n<h3>3.3 \u03b3-phase<\/h3>\n<p>Carbides with cubic lattice (e.g., TiC, TaC), which may contain other carbides (e.g., WC) in solid solution.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Apparatus and Equipment<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>4.1<\/strong> Metallographic microscope: magnification up to 1,500x<\/li>\n<li><strong>4.2<\/strong> Scanning electron microscope (SEM): magnification exceeding 1,500x<\/li>\n<li><strong>4.3<\/strong> Specimen preparation equipment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>5. Specimen Preparation<\/h2>\n<p>The polished surface for metallographic examination shall be free of grinding marks and polishing scratches. Care should be taken to avoid particle pull-out, which could lead to misinterpretation of the microstructure.<\/p>\n<p><em>Note:<\/em> Begin with careful coarse grinding to ensure sufficient material removal to reveal the true microstructure. After grinding with fine diamond wheels, polish on fine plastic, felt, or paper discs using diamond paste or powder with progressively decreasing grain size down to 1 \u03bcm.<\/p>\n<h2>6. Procedure<\/h2>\n<h3>6.1 Metallographic Specimen Preparation<\/h3>\n<h4>6.1.1 General<\/h4>\n<p>Proper specimen preparation yields a polished surface that, after etching, reveals the true microstructure. <strong>Safety:<\/strong> Specimen preparation and etching involve toxic or hazardous chemicals. Operators must be professionally trained and follow laboratory safety protocols.<\/p>\n<h4>6.1.2 Sectioning<\/h4>\n<p>Diamond tools are widely used for cutting hardmetals. Wire saws with diamond-impregnated wire are economical and produce excellent slices.<\/p>\n<h4>6.1.3 Mounting<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Cold mounting:<\/strong> Epoxy, acrylic, or polyester resins. <strong>Hot mounting:<\/strong> Thermosetting powders (phenolic resin or polyamide) under heat and pressure. Recommended to remove specimens from mount before etching and SEM observation.<\/p>\n<h4>6.1.4 Grinding<\/h4>\n<p>Typically, at least <strong>200 \u03bcm<\/strong> of material should be removed to obtain a representative microstructure.<\/p>\n<h4>6.1.5 Fine Grinding<\/h4>\n<p>Fine grinding on glass, metal, plastic, or composite plates with diamond abrasive produces flat surfaces.<\/p>\n<h4>6.1.6 Polishing<\/h4>\n<p>Polishing on short-nap or nap-free cloths using progressively smaller diamond abrasives: <strong>15 \u03bcm \u2192 9 \u03bcm \u2192 3 \u03bcm \u2192 1 \u03bcm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lubricant:<\/strong> Alcohol-based lubricants serve as both coolant and cleaning agent.<\/p>\n<h4>6.1.7 Cleaning<\/h4>\n<p>Ultrasonic cleaning with warm water and detergent, or acetone for unmounted specimens. <strong>Acetone cleaning before SEM is strongly recommended.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>6.2 Etching<\/h3>\n<h4>6.2.1 Murakami Reagent<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Murakami reagent<\/strong> (potassium ferricyanide + sodium\/potassium hydroxide) is commonly used to reveal the microstructure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recommended solution:<\/strong> Equal volumes of 10-20% potassium ferricyanide and sodium\/potassium hydroxide in water (10-20 g per 100 mL). At 20\u00b0C, etching time: <strong>0.5 to 6 minutes<\/strong> depending on WC grain size.<\/p>\n<h4>6.2.2 \u03b1-phase (WC) Determination<\/h4>\n<p>Etch with Murakami reagent. Classify WC grain size into grades:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Nano-grain \u2192 Ultra-fine \u2192 Sub-fine \u2192 Fine \u2192 Medium \u2192 Coarse \u2192 Extra-coarse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Note:<\/em> For nano and ultra-fine grains, SEM observation is required when optical microscopy cannot clearly resolve the grain structure.<\/p>\n<h4>6.2.3 \u03b2-phase (Binder) Determination<\/h4>\n<p>Etch with concentrated hydrochloric acid. This phase appears white.<\/p>\n<h4>6.2.4 \u03b3-phase Determination<\/h4>\n<p>Etch with Process 2 (Murakami + HCl). This phase appears light tan\/brown with characteristic spherical morphology.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Test Report<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>a) Reference to this standard (GB\/T 3488.1-2014)<\/li>\n<li>b) All details necessary to identify the specimen<\/li>\n<li>c) Test results<\/li>\n<li>d) Any operations not specified in this standard<\/li>\n<li>e) Any details that may have affected the results<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Plate Descriptions<\/h2>\n<h3>Figure 1 \u2014 \u03b1-phase (WC) nano-grain and ultra-fine grain<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>a) Nano-grain \u2014 Optical (20 \u03bcm) &nbsp; b) Nano-grain \u2014 SEM (3 \u03bcm)<\/li>\n<li>c) Ultra-fine grain \u2014 Optical (20 \u03bcm) &nbsp; d) Ultra-fine grain \u2014 SEM (3 \u03bcm)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Figure 2 \u2014 \u03b1-phase (WC) sub-fine, fine and medium grain<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>a-b) Sub-fine grain \u2014 Optical\/SEM (20 \u03bcm \/ 10 \u03bcm)<\/li>\n<li>c-d) Fine grain \u2014 Optical\/SEM (20 \u03bcm \/ 10 \u03bcm)<\/li>\n<li>e-f) Medium grain \u2014 Optical\/SEM (20 \u03bcm \/ 10 \u03bcm)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Figure 3 \u2014 \u03b1-phase (WC) coarse and extra-coarse grain<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>a-b) Coarse grain \u2014 Optical\/SEM (20 \u03bcm \/ 30 \u03bcm)<\/li>\n<li>c-d) Extra-coarse grain \u2014 Optical\/SEM (20 \u03bcm \/ 30 \u03bcm)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Original PDF (Chinese Version)<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GBT_3488.1-2014_Hardmetals_Metallographic_Determination_Part1-1.pdf\" download>\ud83d\udce5 Download Original PDF (GB\/T 3488.1-2014 \u786c\u8d28\u5408\u91d1 \u663e\u5fae\u7ec4\u7ec7\u7684\u91d1\u76f8\u6d4b\u5b9a \u7b2c1\u90e8\u5206)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><embed src=\"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GBT_3488.1-2014_Hardmetals_Metallographic_Determination_Part1-1.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" width=\"100%\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GB\/T 3488.1-2014 \/ ISO 4499-1:2008 English translation. Hardmetals metallographic determination of microstructure Part 1: Photomicrographs and description.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[208,203,204,207,198,209,205,206],"class_list":["post-1268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-cemented-carbide","tag-gb-t-3488-1","tag-hardmetal","tag-iso-4499-1","tag-metallography","tag-metallurgy-standard","tag-microstructure","tag-wc-grain-size"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1268"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1269,"href":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1268\/revisions\/1269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.songhaiflange.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}