EXP NO: MT2220/01 & MT2220/02
METALLOGRAPHY – STEEL
AND CAST IRON
INSTRUCTED BY:
MR.K.W.W.SATHIKSHANA.
PARTNERS
01) SAVIDYA P.G.N. NAME: JAYAWARDHANA
02) RASHMIKA M.P. I.R.M.
03) DISSANAYAKE D.M.T.B. COURSE: BSC ENGINEERING
04) PERERA W.A.D.I. GROUP: D
05) SULAKSHANA R.N.H.
NO: 200267C
06) RATHNAYAKA R.D.C.L.
07) JAYAWEERA W.M.S.P. DATE OF PER: 28/09/2022
08) LIVINSTON N.U.I.K. DATE OF SUB: 12/10/2022
TITLE: METALLOGRAPHY – STEEL AND CAST IRON
INTRODUCTION
Metallography is the study of the microstructure of all types of metallic alloys. It can be more
precisely defined as the scientific discipline of observing and determining the chemical and atomic
structure and spatial distribution of the grains, constituents, inclusions or phases in metallic alloys.
And our ability to relate properties to microstructures is critical to our understanding of
material behavior. The geometric arrangement of grains and the various phases present in a material is
referred to as the microstructure.
By observing the microstructure of a material, materials engineers can predict its general
behavior. Besides the crystallographic nature of a material, imperfections inside a material have an
even greater influence on the mechanical properties, that is tensile, fatigue, creep, fracture toughness,
impact properties. Some defects such as missing planes of atoms, called dislocations, are responsible
for plastic deformation of crystalline solids. Others such as grain boundaries, precipitates, twins and
cracks alter stress distribution in a material and the accompanying motion of dislocations. Some
defects such as missing atoms and dislocations cannot be observed optically except by their effects,
that is strain, etch pits, slip lines. Other defects such as grain boundaries, twins, precipitates, can be
observed readily in the microscope.[1]
We focused on iron-carbon alloys in this lab class. Samples can be classified as Steel or Cast iron
based on their carbon percentage.
➢ Steel
Steel is an iron-carbon alloy with a mass carbon percentage content ≤ 2.0% and a small amount of
impurity elements such as manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), sulfur (S), phosphorus (P), and oxygen (O),
etc.
The percentage content of carbon distinguishes low, medium, and high carbon steel, and it is
classified into the following types based on the percentage content of carbon.
• Low Carbon Steel:
Low carbon steel is carbon steel that contains less than 0.25% (or 0.29%) carbon.
• Medium Carbon Steel:
Medium carbon steel has a carbon percentage content ranging from 0.25% (or 0.29%) to
0.60%.
• High Carbon Steel:
High carbon steel has a carbon content of 0.60% to 1.70% (maximum 2.0%).
➢ Cast iron
Cast iron is an iron-carbon alloy with relatively higher levels of carbon (2 - 4.5% by weight) in the
form of graphite or iron carbide. Cast irons contain silicon, phosphorus, manganese, sulphur, and other
elements in addition to iron and carbon. Si and P are discovered to have similar effects as C, and the
amount of C is generally expressed by a carbon equivalent value.
Carbon Equivalent = % C + 1/ 3 (% Si + % P)
Cast iron can be classified into four main types.
• Grey cast iron
• White cast iron
• Malleable cast iron
• Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron (Ductile iron / Nodular iron)
The iron-phase diagram is extremely useful when studying steel and cast iron.
The iron-carbon phase diagram is widely used to understand the different phases of steel and cast
iron. Steel and cast iron are both iron and carbon alloys. In addition, both alloys contain trace elements.
The graph is quite complex, but because we are only interested in Fe3C, we will only look at up to
6.67 weight percent carbon. The carbon concentrations by weight are plotted on the X-axis, and the
temperature scale is plotted on the Y-axis in this iron carbon phase diagram. Carbon is an interstitial
impurity in iron. The alloy can form either a face-centered cubic (FCC) or a body-centered cubic
(BCC) lattice. It will form a solid solution with α, γ, and δ phases of iron.[2]
THEORY
Metallography is the study of the structures and constitution of metals and alloys using
metallurgical microscopes and magnifications, in order to relate an alloy's physical and mechanical
properties to its observed microstructure.
Such microscopic examinations can provide structural information about the specimen under
investigation.
• The size and shape of the grains
• The presence of micro defects.
Proper preparation of metallographic specimens to determine microstructure and content
requires that a rigid step-by-step process be followed. In sequence, the steps include:
1) Sectioning (cutting) - The preparation process begins with the cutting of a small
representative piece of the metal to be studied. A sample's microstructure can be
changed by cutting.
2) Mounting -The process of coating the sample. Mounting of specimens is usually
necessary to:
o Allow them to be handled easily.
o Minimizes the amount of damage likely to be caused to the specimen itself.
3) Grinding - Surface layers damaged by cutting must be removed by grinding
4) Polishing - To remove deformations from grinding and obtain a surface that is highly
reflective. Polishing discs are covered with soft cloth
5) Etching - Etching occurs when the acid or base is placed on the specimen
surface. The purpose of etching:
o Grinding and polishing operations produce a highly deformed, thin layer on the surface
which is removed chemically during etching.
o Etching is used to reveal the microstructure of the metal through selective chemical
attack
6) Microscopic examination. [3]
MATERIALS AND APPARATURES
MATERIALS
• Low carbon steel (P2 and N10)
• Medium carbon steel (P3)
• High carbon steel (N21 and N24)
• Grey cast iron (M1 and M4)
• White cast iron (M10)
• Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron (J8B)
• Malleable Cast Iron (J2)
APPARATURES
• Microscope
PROCEDURE
• The microstructure of each prepared sample was examined under a microscope at the proper
magnification.
• After, the microstructure was sketched and labelled.
REFFERENCES
[1] D. Diez, J. DeRose, D. D. 1, and J. D. , Ph.D. 1, “Metallography – an Introduction | Science Lab |
Leica Microsystems,” Metallography – an Introduction | Science Lab | Leica Microsystems, Dec. 08,
2020. https://www.leica-microsystems.com/science-lab/metallography-an-
introduction/#:~:text=Metallography%20is%20the%20study%20of%20the%20microstructure%20of,g
rains%2C%20constituents%2C%20inclusions%20or%20phases%20in%20metallic%20alloys
(accessed Oct. 11, 2022).
[2] “Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram Explained [with Graphs],” Fractory, Mar. 10, 2020.
https://fractory.com/iron-carbon-phase-diagram/ (accessed Oct. 11, 2022).
[3] “Objective of the experiment.” [Online]. Available:
http://site.iugaza.edu.ps/mkheir/files/2016/09/Experiment-3.pdf (accessed Oct. 11, 2022).
[4] “Difference Between Low, Medium & High Carbon Steel,” Difference Between Low, Medium &
High Carbon Steel, Dec. 14, 2019. https://www.theworldmaterial.com/low-medium-high-carbon-
steel/#:~:text=Low%20Carbon%20Steel%3A%20also%20know%20as%20mild%20steel%2C,Carbon
%20Steel%3A%20the%20carbon%20percentage%20content%20is%200.60%25-2.0%25 (accessed
Oct. 12, 2022).
[5] “Cast Iron: Properties, Processing and Applications - Matmatch,” Cast Iron: Properties,
Processing and Applications - Matmatch. https://matmatch.com/learn/material/cast-iron (accessed Oct.
12, 2022).
