Wood Magnesium Sample Polishing

Safety

•Must wear appropriate PPE (safety glasses and gloves when needed)

Procedure

1. Start grinding with 240 grit silicon carbide sandpaper and a force around 20 N. To change the force to 20 N, turn the screw until the dot is aligned with the second line from the bottom.
2. Let the grinder run for 1 minute and check to see if the sample is planar. If the sample is not planar, then run the grinder for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute.
3. Take the samples out and run them under water. Spray the samples with the air hose until they are dry.
4. Spray the samples with ethanol and dry them with the air hose.
5. Replace the 240 grit sandpaper with 320 grit sandpaper.
6. Run the samples for 1 minute on the grinder.
7. Take the samples out, rinse with water, and dry with the air hose. Then rinse the samples with ethanol and dry with the air hose.
8. Repeat this process with 400, 600, and 800 grit sandpaper. Grind for 1 minute, rinse with water and dry, rinse with ethanol and dry, and replace with next grit.
9. After completing the 800 grit stage, place the sample in the sonicator on 30 for about 10 minutes.
10. Put a couple drops of the 3 µm diamond compound on an unwoven pad and spread it around with a gloved finger.
11. Put Red Lube Polishing Lubricant on the pad to lubricate it. Do not put water on the pad.
12. Grind for 5 minutes.
13. Put the sample in the sonicator for another few minutes.
14. Put a couple drops of the 1 µm diamond suspension on an unwoven pad.
15. Put Red Lube Polishing Lubricant on the pad to lubricate it. Do not put water on the pad.
16. Grind for 5 minutes.
17. Run water on the grinder to make sure it is clean.
18. Replace the pad with the diamond compound with a blue cloth pad and get the pad wet with water and a few sprays of Al3O2 with DI water.
19. Run the grinder for about 90 seconds keep spraying the pad occasionally with the Al3O2 with DI water mixture to ensure that it stays wet.
20. Run the samples for another 30 seconds with just water.
21. Remove the samples and spray with ethanol. Make sure not to scratch the polished face when taking it out of the grinder.
22. Dry with hair dryer. Make sure not to touch the polished face.