Tool steels are very hard steels, typically in the range of Rc 50-60. Microstructural preparation is relatively staight forward. With the use of polycrystalline diamond and nanometer alumina abrasives, these very hard materials can be very easy to polish..
SECTIONING
MAXCUT Abrasive blade (Cat. No. MAX-E or MAX-I series)
MOUNTING
Compression Mounting with Phenolic, Epoxy or Diallyl Phthalate compression mounting resins
POLISHING
Abrasive/surface |
Lubricant |
Force/ sample |
Speed |
Time |
120 micron diamond disk |
Water |
5-10 lbs |
200/200 rpm |
Until plane |
9 um DIAMAT diamond on POLYPAD polishing pad |
DIALUBE Purple Extender |
5-10 lbs |
200/200 rpm |
3 minutes |
3 um DIAMAT diamond on TEXPAN polishing pad |
DIALUBE Purple Extender |
5-10 lbs |
200/200 rpm |
3 minutes |
1 um DIAMAT diamond on ATLANTIS polishing pad |
DIALUBE Purple Extender |
5-10 lbs |
200/200 rpm |
2 minutes |
0.05 um Nanometer alumina on MICROPAD or MICROPAD 2 polishing pad |
|
5-10 lbs |
100/100 rpm |
30 seconds |
 |
44 MnV F6 Steel, 500X, 3 second nital etch
|
 |
| High alloy tool steel, 200X (BF), Etchant Picral. |