Method of, and an apparatus for, rinsing materialographic samples

1. A method of rinsing materialographic samples comprising:

arranging one or more materialographic samples to be rinsed in a sample holder, wherein the materialographic samples comprise at least one of metal, polymer or ceramic samples that have been cut and subjected to at least one of a grinding or lapping procedure,

coupling the sample holder to a rotation head of a rinsing apparatus,

placing the sample holder coupled to the rotation head in a vessel of the rinsing apparatus, followed by, in a sequential order,

commencing filling the vessel with a rinsing liquid by injecting the rinsing liquid through an inlet disposed in the bottom of the vessel to submerge the samples into the rinsing liquid,

subjecting the rinsing liquid and the materialographic samples to ultrasound,

rotating the sample holder including the materialographic samples relative to the vessel, wherein the step of subjecting the rinsing liquid and the materialographic samples to ultrasound is maintained at least during filling of the vessel with the rinsing liquid, and

subjecting the rinsed materialographic samples to a second grinding, lapping or polishing procedure.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the sample holder is initiated after the application of ultrasound is initiated.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the sample holder is initiated after filling of the vessel with the rinsing liquid is completed.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein application of ultrasound is commenced and maintained throughout filling of the vessel and wherein the rotation of the sample holder is initiated only after filling of the vessel is completed.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said rinsing apparatus includes a lid configured to move between an open position in which the materialographic samples can be placed or removed and a closed position in which the lid covers said vessel, and wherein said method further includes, prior to rotating the sample holder, moving the lid to the closed position.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said rinsing apparatus includes a lid configured to cover said vessel and prevent the rinsing liquid from spilling over a top surface of the vessel; and

wherein said method further includes injecting said rinsing liquid through an inlet;

wherein the path of said injected rinsing liquid is deflected from a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the sample holder; and

wherein said injection of rinsing liquid is initiated before closing said lid is completed.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

emptying the rinsing liquid from the vessel while rotating the sample holder including the materialographic samples.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the application of ultrasound is maintained while emptying the rinsing liquid from the vessel.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, following the arranging of one or more materialographic samples to be rinsed in the sample holder, arranging a retainer plate on top of one or more samples.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further includes spraying alcohol or methylated spirit on the materialographic samples in the sample holder after emptying the rinsing liquid from the vessel, and while rotating the sample holder in the vessel.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the vessel is evacuated from the rinsing liquid by applying a vacuum to an outlet of the vessel.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rotational speed of the sample holder is in the range of 50-200 revolutions per minute (rpm).

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method includes increasing the rotational speed of the sample holder following commencement of emptying the vessel.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rinsing liquid is pure water or tap water, and the method further comprises:

performing a second rinsing of the materialographic samples after the second grinding, lapping or polishing procedure.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the increasing the rotational speed is maintained until the rinsing process is stopped.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the increased rotational speed is in the range of 1,500 revolutions per minute to 2,500 revolutions per minute.

17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the method further includes simultaneously with the increasing the rotational speed of the sample holder, ventilating the vessel by application of pressurized air.