Preparation Methods for Lower Bainite after a Continuous Austempering Treatment of Thin Sheets of the Eutectoid Cold Work Steel 80CrV2 (1.2235)

Abstract Strip material with a thickness of 0.85 m was austempered in a suitable continuous hardening furnace for the further development of blade body steels used for thin-cutting circular and band saw blades. This work also comprised the search for a rather straightforward metallographic preparation procedure allowing for a reliable identification of the microstructure and microstructural constituents. The prepared microstructure can be revealed using Nital or Beraha and LePera etching solutions. None of the three etchants allows a reliable and reproducible distinction of the microstructural constituents of the extremely fine-grained lower bainite using light-optical techniques. Only the use of the scanning electron microscope at higher magnifications allows a reliable identification of the characteristic bainite fiber bundles. For this examination, etching with Nital is recommended.