Method of analyzing a plurality of ferromagnetic particles

1. A method. of analyzing a plurality of ferromagnetic particles:

a) aligning the particles such that each of the particles is oriented substantially in the same direction;

b) fixing the particles in the alignment, to obtain aligned particles;

c) cutting the fixed particles in a plane perpendicular to their alignment direction exposing a face of core regions of all of the aligned particles;

d) treating the exposed faces of the particles with at least one chemical reagent to determine the category of an alloy constituting each of the particles and grouping the particles by alloy category;

optionally, observing the treated exposed faces in an optical microscope; and

e) after d), determining the metallurgical structure chemical composition of at least one particle in each alloy category by at least one of electron microscopy and spectroscopy.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in a), all of the particles are aligned in a single stage.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the particles extends in a main plane (P), and in a), the main planes are all put substantially into alignment.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in a), the particles are aligned by placing them in a magnetic field in a region of the magnetic field where the field lines of the magnetic field are parallel.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the particles are placed in a non-magnetic container placed above a magnet to place the particles in the magnetic field.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a non-magnetic spacer is interposed between the magnet and the container.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to a):

placing the particles in a container,

wherein, in b), the particles are fixed in position by pouring a material into the container, wherein the material coats the particles such that the particles become embedded therein, and on solidifying fixes the particles in an aligned position.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in a), the particles are spaced apart before being aligned.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the particles are spaced apart by placing the particles in a demagnetizer.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in d), a chemical etch reagent which reacts with and allows identification of an alloy is applied to the particles.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein, in d), after applying the chemical etch reagent to the particles, the optical microscope is employed to determine the alloy of each category group of particles.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

collecting the ferromagnetic particles on a magnetic plug or filter in a fluid circuit; and analyzing the collected ferromagnetic particles in a) through e).