QUANTITATIVE MICROSCOPY 4 5 9

The above microsiruclure. at 500X , is a sample of Ti^6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo forged at I750F (954C) in the
alpha-beta region and annealed at 1775 F (968 C) in the alpha-beta region producing primary alpha (white)
and an alpha-beta eutectoid. The sample was etched with Kroll's reagent. Point counting is used to determine
the amount of equiaxed alpha. 48.5%. The three concentric circles have a total circumference of 500 mm. A
count is made of the number of equiaxed alpha grains intercepted by the three circles, 76. The mean lineal
intercept Lia is calculated:
l}a = (0.483) (500/300) = 0.006382 mm
The ASTM grain size G, is calculated:
G = [-6.646 log(0.006382)] - 3.298 = 11.29 (round to 11.3 or 11.5)

Figure 6-14 Example of the determination of grain size in a two-phase alloy using point counting and
intercept counting (reduced 25 percent in reproduction).

produced better results. The etched sample is viewed at 1000X. A 5-in (127-mm)
line, usually scribed on a ground-glass projection screen or drawn on a clearplastic overlay, is used as the test element. With certain samples, the structure is
viewed at 500X and a 2.5-in line is used. The number of grains intercepted by the
line is counted. The average of 10 such measurements is the Snyder-Graff
intercept grain size number. Figure 6-15 is an example of the use of the technique.
The ASTM grain size can be calculated from the following equation:
G = [6.635 log (S-G)] + 2.66

(6-42)

where S-G is the Snyder-Graff intercept count number. To convert the SnyderGraff intercept count to a mean intercept length, it is multiplied by 7.874 to give
NL as the number per millimeter or by 200 to give NL as the number per inch and
then the reciprocal of NL is taken. G can then be calculated from L 3 using either
Eq. (6-29) or (6-30), depending on the units used.