Manufacturing Technology 2020, 20(2):177-182 | DOI: 10.21062/mft.2020.022

Identification of virgin martensite in quenched microstructures of new generation of forging steels with higher silicon content using colour etching

Štěpán Jeníček, Ivan Vorel, Michal Peković

Regional Technological Institute, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Univerzitní 22, 306 14 Plzeň. Czech Republic

Observation and identification of products of transformation of austenite during austempering, Q-P processing, or quenching and tempering are often challenging. The reason is that the resulting microstructures are typically very fine and provide insufficient contrast between microstructural components. Their analysis requires scanning or transmission electron microscopy which demand rather complex sample preparation procedures and involve high costs of maintenance of microscopes and accessories. However, in-process inspection of products of heat treatment calls for simpler and rapid methods of microstructure analysis using a light microscope.

Keywords: heat treatment, steel, martensite, Q-P process

Grants and funding:

The project LO1502 ‘Development of the Regional Technological Institute‘ under the auspices of the National Sustainability Programme I of the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic aimed to support research, experimental development and innovation.

Prepublished online: August 17, 2020; Published: August 18, 2020  Show citation