Investigating the effect of holding duration on the microstructure of 1.2080 tool steel during the deep cryogenic heat treatment

► Deep cryogenic heat treatment eliminate retained austenite and improve carbide distribution and percentage. ► Increasing holding duration, improve hardness and carbide distribution up to 36 h. ► After 36 h, hardness and carbide distribution attenuated. ► After 48 h, hardness and carbide distribution show no specific changes.