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Pearlitic rail steel etching (for microstructure)

January 31, 2011

Hi All,

I need to know etchant used for pearlitic rail steel.
In many literatures, nital has been used (but no specific %), I tried with 2%, 2.5% nital but I didn't get required microstructure (pearlite colony size, pearlite interlamellar spacing, prior austenite grain boundary)
And, how to calculate the pro-eutectoid cementite.
Suggest which etchant to be used? or If I need to use the same etchant, how I can get the desired microstructure.

And, I have 10 mm*10 mm fractured rail sample which has been corroded, I need to know which chemical can be used to clean the surface without incurring any changes in the microstructure.
THIS SAMPLE WILL BE USED FOR 'SEM'.

CHANDRAHAS RATHOD
Student - WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA