Examination of oxide scales formed during hot rolling of steels

Preparation of oxidized steel samples demands special attention, due to the heterogeneous composition combining hard and brittle with soft and ductile phases. Samples of various steels taken from the hot rolling process at voestalpine Stahl GmbH as well as samples oxidized in a horizontal tube furnace under controlled atmosphere are examined. Suitable mounting techniques, including the use of taper section angles to achieve increased depth resolution, and preparation parameters for reproducible and satisfactory results are presented, backed by images taken during various stages of grinding and polishing.