MM208 File [Phase Transformation and Heat Treatment]

ARYAN PRATAP SINGH 2021MMB1344 GROUP-01

ASSINGMENT-01

Introduction:
The given sample is a mild steel sample. The objective of this lab is tostudy the
metallography of the given sample and study the different involved heat treatment
processes. We have to calculate the grain size and volume fraction and hardness value
of the obtained microstructure.

Heat Treatment Processes

1. Quenching:
It is a process in which sample is heated upto austenizing temperature and
hold it for the occurrence of transformation. Then suddenly immerse the
heated sample in the water, resulting in the rapid cooling of the sample. This
results in the increase in the increment in hardness and strength of the steel
sample.

2. Annealing
In this process, the sample is heated above critical temperatureand holds for a
long time for transformation to occur and then cooled at a very slow rate at the
furnace.

3. Normalizing
In this process, the sample is heated above the critical temperature, and
holds for a long time for transformation to occur and then cooled at room
temperature in the open atmosphere.

4. Isothermal Holding
In this process, the sample after heating it in a furnace is immersed in a salt bath
or kept inside at another furnace at lowertemperature than that of the first one
and at constant temperature.
 TTT DIAGRAM

APPLICATION OF HT:
The most common application of heat treating is metallurgical.
Heat treatment is also utilized in the manufacture of many materials like glass.
Heat treating can change or improve the properties of a metal including:
 Strength
 Hardness,Ductility
 Toughness
 Wear resistance
 Elasticity.

Limitation of HT
 Heat Treatment can damage some materials,
 Heat treatment can change the properties of a material, making it harder or softer.
 Heat treatment can make a material more brittle and less ductile.
 Heat treatment can cause distortion in some materials.
Methodology
Grinding
a. Belt Grinder
i) Hold the sample in steady state in such a way that itshould touch
the running belt.
ii) Gently apply the pressure and hold it parallel to the beltfor sometime.
iii) Clean the sample.
Note: The belt is of 120 grit size.
b. Grit Paper
i) Start with the emery paper with 200 grit size. Rub the sample in a
particular direction against the paper and makescratches in a particular
direction only.
ii) Rotate the sample by 90 degree when the grit size is tobe changed.
iii) Repeat the above processes using different paper ofdifferent grit
size.
iv) Clean the sample before changing the paper using tissue paper so
as to avoid mixing of particles of different sizes.
Polishing
I. Polishing in the lab is done using velvet cloth fixed in a rotatingdisc in which
alumina paste is used for polishing. 1 micron paste is used in the beginning
followed by 0.3 micron paste.
II. The speed of the rotating disc lies in the range 200 rpm to 300rpm.
III. Hold and gently press the sample over the rotating disc andmove it in a
radial direction.
IV. Pour the paste and water whenever required.Hold the sampleuntil mirror
appearance does not come.Wash the sample with water or ethanol once the
mirror like surface occur and then dry it.
Etching
I. After polishing, prepare an etchant (Nital in our case).
II. Pour etchant in a petri dish.
III. Dip the sample in the the dish for about 20-30 seconds.
IV. Clean the sample.
V. Repeat process (iii) if required.

Etchant Details
Etching is done to detect the microstructure. Etchant used in lab is Nital. The
composition of Nital is 98% ethanol and 2% nitric acid by volume.
For High alloyed steels: Color etchants are used(beraha etc.)
For carbonic steel: Alcoholic Nitric Acid
Hardness Measurement

Vickers test was used to measure hardness of given sample.

It is comprised of a diamond indenter and a light load to produce an indentation on the
subject under testing.
The depth of indentation is converted into the hardness value of the object. the load is
then dropped which causes the indenter to push itself through the material’s surface.
Once the dwell time has elapsed, the load is removed and the indenter is released.
Examine the dimensions of the indentation left and use a specific equation to come up
with the material’s hardness value:

Average Hardness value= (193+225)/2=209Hv

Result
Labelled Diagram [MICROSCOPY]
In lab we have used upright optical microscope.
Upright microscopes are microscopes in which the objective lenses are placed above the
stage, while the source of light and condenser are located below, allowing for
observation of the specimen from the top.
The source of transmitted light and the condenser are located below the stage, pointing
up. The objectives are placed on top of the stage, pointing down.
The specimen is observed from the top through the lid of a petri dish or a coverslip.
In some systems, the objective lens is dipped into the culture medium without any
coverslip.

500x 200x

100x

The microstructure is fine pearlite according to hardness.

Fine pearlite basically have layer structure of Ferrite(87 wt%) and Cementite(13 wt%).

Volume fraction Present:

Using lever rule at 600 degree Celsius or 0.4% weight carbon, we get volume
fraction as :
0.95[FERRITE] and 0.054 [Cementite]
Grain Size Measurement
We have used Planimetric method to calculate grain size.
Grain number= 3.9
Grain Size = 0.046 mm=46 µ𝑚

Conclusion

After performing all the procedures, we conclude that the mild steelsample consists
of Fine Pearlite which is soft and ductile. The heat treatment process which was
done on the sample is Normalizing.
Because 209Hv is very low hardness that simply means it is FINE pearlite.
Normalizing: The sample is heated above the critical temperature, and holds for a
long time for transformation to occur then cooled.
The volume fraction of cementite and ferrite are 0.054 and 0.95
respectively.
The average grain size is found to be 46µ𝑚.
The average Hardness value is found to be 209Hv