<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Both qualitative and quantitative analyses play a key role in the microstructural characterization of nanobainitic steels focused on their mechanical properties. This research demonstrates various methods of microstructure analysis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) techniques, taking into account these two approaches. The structural constituents have been qualitatively characterized using TEM and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), together with quantitative analysis based on the misorientation angle (EBSD). Besides, quantitative measurement of austenite with both blocky and film-like morphologies has been carried out. Due to the scale of nanostructured bainite, it is also important to control the thickness of bainitic ferrite and film-like austenite; hence, a method for measuring their thickness is presented. Finally, the possibility of measuring the prior-austenite grain size by the EBSD method is also demonstrated and compared with the conventional grain boundary etching method. The presented methods of qualitative and quantitative analyses form a complementary procedure for the microstructural characterization of nanoscale bainitic steels.</p>
</abstract>

Both qualitative and quantitative analyses play a key role in the microstructural characterization of nanobainitic steels focused on their mechanical properties. This research demonstrates various methods of microstructure analysis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) techniques, taking into account these two approaches. The structural constituents have been qualitatively characterized using TEM and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), together with quantitative analysis based on the misorientation angle (EBSD). Besides, quantitative measurement of austenite with both blocky and film-like morphologies has been carried out. Due to the scale of nanostructured bainite, it is also important to control the thickness of bainitic ferrite and film-like austenite; hence, a method for measuring their thickness is presented. Finally, the possibility of measuring the prior-austenite grain size by the EBSD method is also demonstrated and compared with the conventional grain boundary etching method. The presented methods of qualitative and quantitative analyses form a complementary procedure for the microstructural characterization of nanoscale bainitic steels.

The qualitative–quantitative approach to microstructural characterization of nanostructured bainitic steels using electron microscopy methods

Department of Metal Forming, Welding and Metrology

Wroclaw University of Science and Technology

Materials Science-Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Both qualitative and quantitative analyses play a key role in the microstructural characterization of nanobainitic steels focused on their mechanical...

The qualitative–quantitative approach to microstructural characterization of nanostructured bainitic steels using electron microscopy methods

Published Online: Oct 01, 2021

Page range: 188 - 199

Received: Jul 23, 2021

Accepted: Aug 16, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/msp-2021-0017

Keywords
EBSD, TEM, SEM, bainite, grain size, retained austenite

© 2021 Aleksandra Królicka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The qualitative–quantitative approach to microstructural characterization of nanostructured bainitic steels using electron microscopy methods

Published Online: Oct 01, 2021

Page range: 188 - 199

Received: Jul 23, 2021

Accepted: Aug 16, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/msp-2021-0017

KeywordsEBSD, TEM, SEM, bainite, grain size, retained austenite

© 2021 Aleksandra Królicka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
EBSD, TEM, SEM, bainite, grain size, retained austenite