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Optical Microscopy of Mild Steel Microstructures

This document summarizes an experiment comparing the microstructures and properties of annealed and normalized mild steel samples. Microscopy was used to observe the microstructures at magnifications from 100x to 400x. The annealed sample had a coarser pearlite structure and more uniform grain size distribution, while the normalized sample had a finer pearlite and less uniform grains. Vickers hardness testing found the annealed sample had a hardness of 140HV30, while the normalized sample was harder at 220HV30, confirming the expected effects of the different heat treatments on properties. The document concludes the cooling rate difference between annealing and normalizing caused changes in the microstructures and properties of the mild steel samples.

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170 views17 pages

Optical Microscopy of Mild Steel Microstructures

This document summarizes an experiment comparing the microstructures and properties of annealed and normalized mild steel samples. Microscopy was used to observe the microstructures at magnifications from 100x to 400x. The annealed sample had a coarser pearlite structure and more uniform grain size distribution, while the normalized sample had a finer pearlite and less uniform grains. Vickers hardness testing found the annealed sample had a hardness of 140HV30, while the normalized sample was harder at 220HV30, confirming the expected effects of the different heat treatments on properties. The document concludes the cooling rate difference between annealing and normalizing caused changes in the microstructures and properties of the mild steel samples.

Uploaded by

UmairSiddiqueS
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Optical Microscopy for Observing

Microstructures of Materials

Umair Siddique: 130301031


Ali Zahid Ramay: 130301042

Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad.


Contents
• 1) General Introduction
• 2) Types of Optical Microscopes
• 3) Our Experimental Work
• (Annealing and Normalizing)
• 4) Literature Survey
• 5) Images of Microstructures we got
• 6) Results, discussion and conclusion
Introduction
• Use of Optical Microscope is popular.
• Enables us to observe the Internal Structure of
materials.
• The information obtained can be used to improve
the materials processing and properties.
• Practically can be used up to 2000x.
• Grain sizes in the range of 1-100µm.
Typical Microstructural Features
Microscopy can give information concerning a
material’s composition, previous treatment and
properties.
• Grain Size
• Inclusions, Pores, Defects, Twin Boundaries
• Phases present
• Distribution of phases
• Elongated structures formed by plastic
deformation etc
Types of Optical Microscopes
• Reflected Light (OM)
Light is reflected from the surface.
• Transmitted Light (OM)
Specimen is so thin that light passes through it.
• Stereo Microscopes
Don’t require any sample preparations and are
generally used to observe fracture surfaces, cracks,
fibers and electronic circuit boards, etc.
Experimental Work
• We took two Mild Steel Samples
• Annealed one sample
• Normalized the other
• Prepared the samples’ surfaces by
metallography (Grinding, Polishing, Etching) to
be able to view their microstructures.
• Took photographs of “Microstructures”
• Performed the Vickers hardness test multiple
times to get an average Vickers Hardness value
for annealed and normalized sample.
Literature Survey
Annealed Normalized
• Slow Cooling (Furnace Cooled) • Fast Cooling (Still Air)
• Less hardness, tensile strength • Slightly more hardness, tensile
and toughness strength and toughness
• Pearlite is coarse and usually get • Pearlite is fine and usually appears
resolved by the optical unresolved with optical
microscope. microscope.
• Grain size distribution is more • Grain size distribution is usually
uniform less uniform.
• Internal stresses are least • Internal Stresses are slightly more
Photographs we captured
Annealed 100x Normalized 100x

Slightly Coarse Pearlite Slightly Fine Pearlite


Grain Size Distribution is more uniform Grain Size Distribution is slightly less uniform
Internal Stresses are less Internal Stresses are slightly more
Annealed 200x Normalized 200x

• You can notice the slight differences in the microstructures of both samples.
• Our samples were of Mild Steel (Low Carbon Content), that’s the reason
difference in the microstructures are not too evident.
Annealed 400x Normalized 400x

• Pearlite is slightly coarse. • Pearlite is slightly fine


• Grain Size Distribution, more uniform. • Grain Size Distribution, less uniform
• Internal Stresses are less • Internal Stresses are slightly more
Vickers Hardness Values
Annealed Sample Normalized Sample
• We got 140HV30 • We got 220HV30

Observation Confirmed:
Annealed Mild Steel sample has less HV as compared
with Normalized Mild Steel sample.
Conclusion
• Even the carbon content was low, still the HV of
normalized sample was very good as compared with
Annealed Sample.
• Grain size distribution difference in the annealed and
normalized sample’s microstructure
• In annealing there was enough time (due to slow
cooling rate) for the carbon content to make coarse
pearlite unlike normalizing
• Cooling rate is very important. Its difference caused
change in properties of both samples.
References
• G. E. Dieter, “Engineering Design: A Materials and Processing
Approach”, McGraw hill, 3rd edition.

• Y. Lakhtin and N. Weinstein, “Engineering physical metallurgy and


heat treatment”,

• Engineering Metallurgy- Part I by R. A. Higgins

• S. H. Avner, “Introduction to physical metallurgy”, TATA McGraw hill,


2nd edition.
Acknowledgements

Mr. Sharjeel Ahmad


Dr. Abdul Wadood (PhD), Assistant Professor
Mr. Sikandar
Mr. Ayub
Thank You!

Questions?

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