1.1221 | C60E +QW +T Prior austenite grain boundaries

This hypoeutectoid steel (bar material with ⌀ = 20 mm) with 0.59 % carbon (measured with OES; target: 0.57 – 0.65 %) was austenitised at 850 °C for 30 min, quenched in water and then tempered at 250 °C for 2 hours.

The unalloyed and low tempered steel was successfully etched onto former austenite grain boundaries using ‘PAG HT’.
The copper precipitate is polished off on a stationary, wet OPS disc (ChemTec). Depending on the alloy, 25% ammonia and a cotton swab are required to remove the copper precipitate.

Parameters:

• Etchant PAG HT (made by Schmitz)
• 3+3 min (image)
• +3+1+5 min (image 2)
• Room temperature

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