Metallographic Specimen Preparation for Quenched Bainite Low Carbon Steels

1018 steels do not have a high enough carbon content to form a martensitic structure, instead rapid cooling forms a bainite structure. These materials are relatively easy to polish with standard metallographic techniques.

SECTIONING
MAXCUT Abrasive blade (Cat. No. MAX-D or MAX-I series)

MOUNTING
Compression Mounting with Phenolic, Epoxy or Diallyl Phthalate compression mounting resins

POLISHING

Abrasive/surface	Lubricant	Force/ sample	Speed (Head/base)	Time
240 grit SiC paper 360 grit SiC paper 600 grit SiC paper 800 grit SiC paper 1200 grit SiC paper	Water	5-10 lbs	200/200 rpm	Until plane 1 minute 1 minute 1 minute 1 minute
1 um DIAMAT diamond on GOLDPAD polishing pad	DIALUBE Purple Extender	5-10 lbs	200/200 rpm	2 minutes
0.05 um Nanometer alumina on TRICOTE polishing pad		5-10 lbs	100/100 rpm	1 minute

Metallographic micrograph of Steel Bainite structure

1018 Water Quenched steel, 400X (B.F.), etched with 2% nital
Structure is Bainite

Metallographic Preparation Procedures - Steels

Low Carbon Steel Quenched (Bainite)

Guidelines Chart

Ordering on-line Technical information MSDS sheets Brochures and catalogs

Metallography Support