Direct carbon replicas from metal surfaces

Two methods have been developed for the removal of carbon replica films directly evaporated on to etched metal surfaces. These involve either electropolishing or chemically etching after deposition of the carbon. The film removed by electropolishing gives a replica of high resolution, whilst with the etching technique extraction replicas may be prepared from multiphase alloys and the extracted phases identified by electron diffraction. Some examples of the application of the techniques to carbon and alloy steels are given.