TOOL STEELS can be prepared for macroscopic and microscopic examination using the same basic procedures used for carbon and alloys steels. However, because many tool steels are highly alloyed and are generally heat treated to much higher hardness than most carbon and alloy steels, specific aspects of their preparation differ slightly. The reasons for these differences and the required procedural modifications are discussed in the following sections. Also covered are the effects of hot working, composition, austenitizing, and tempering on microstructure.
The articles and presentations that can be down-loaded from this web site are based upon work done by GFV while employed at Bethlehem Steel (1967-1983), Carpenter Technology (1983-1996), Buehler Ltd. (1996-2009) and Struers (2009-Present) and from the authors consulting work for companies such as, Latrobe Steel, Scot Forge, etc., and from his litigation work. GFV's bylined articles appearing in various issues of the ASM Handbook series have been listed here courtesy of ASM International, Materials Park, Ohio.