The Relationship between Polishing Method and ISE Effect

The aim of the submitted work is to study the relationship between the method of polishing the metallurgical surface and the indentation size effect (ISE). The material of the sample was annealed 99.5% aluminum. The polishing time ranged between 300 and 3600 s. An aqueous emulsion of aluminum oxide (spineline) and diamond paste were used as the polishing agents. The surface quality of the samples was measured with roughness meters. Applied loads in the micro-hardness test were 0.0981, 0.2452, 0.4904, and 0.9807 N. The effect of polishing on micro-hardness, Meyer’s index n, and ISE characteristics was evaluated using the PSR method and the Hays–Kendall approach. As the polishing time increases, the micro-hardness values decrease, and the value of Meyer’s index n increases from “normal” to neutral, i.e., Kick’s law applies. The finding was confirmed for both of the used polishing agents.