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-H series)
MOUNTING
Compression Mounting with Phenolic, Epoxy or Diallyl Phthalate compression mounting resins
POLISHING
Abrasive/surface |
Lubricant |
Force/ sample |
Time |
320 grit SiC paper |
Water |
5 lbs |
Until plane |
1 um DIAMAT diamond on DACRON pad |
DIALUBE Purple Extender |
5 lbs |
2 minutes |
0.05 um Nanometer alumina on NAPPAD pad |
|
5 lbs |
30 seconds |
 |
1018 Water Quenched steel,
400X (B.F.), etched with 2% nital |