Table 1.

Materials and parameters for specimen preparation.

Stages	Surface	Abrasive/Size	Load (N)/Specimen	Base Speed (rpm)/Direction	Time (Min)
Stage 1	Carbimet disc	P180 grit SiC, water cooled	25	350/complementary direction (platen and specimen holder both rotate in the same direction)	Until plane surface
Stage 2	Carbimet disc	P320 grit SiC, water cooled	25	350/complementary direction	1/2
Stage 3	Carbimet disc	P600 grit SiC, water cooled	25	350/complementary direction	1/2
Stage 4	Ultra-Pol cloth	9-μm Metadi Supreme–diamond suspension	25	150/opposite direction (platen and specimen holder rotate in opposite direction)	4
Stage 5	Trident cloth	1-μm Metadi Supreme–diamond suspension	20	150/opposite direction	4
Stage 6	Chemomet pads	Masterprep 0.05-μm alumina suspension	20	150/opposite direction	1
Stage 7	Microcloth	Masterprep 0.05-μm alumina suspension	-	Vibratory polishing	60