Distribution of residual austenite in quenched tool steels

Previously abstracted from original as item 9312-21-0328 in Metals Abstracts. High heat stability of retained austenite in steels after quenching allows to preserve it in heating to subcritical temperatures and provide the gamma to alpha transformation in the course of retaining at these temperatures. The pearlite-type structures, emerging as a result of this kind of retained austenite decay, are distinguished by an increased susceptibility to etching, that allows to fix easily their distribution in metallographic examination.