FALL SEMESTER 2018-19

Course: Materials Engineering and Technology Code: MEE1005

Faculty: Prof. Sreekanth M. S. Slot: L21-22
Name: Anurag Singh Reg. No. 17BME0194

Experiment No.1 Date: 26/07/2018

Microstructure Examination of Mild Steel

Aim:
To identify the given sample by observing the microstructure through standard metallographic
procedures.

Materials Used:
Emery Sheets of 220,400,600,800,1000 grit size
Alumina polishing compound

Equipments Used:
Metallurgical Microscope (Optical Microscope) () Disc Polisher
Theoretical Background:
Metallography is the study of the structure of metals and alloys. Metallographic analysis can be
used as a tool to help identify a metal or alloy, to determine whether an alloy was processed
correctly, to examine multiple phases within a material, to locate and characterize imperfections
such as voids or impurities, or to observe damaged or degraded areas in failure analysis
investigations.

Experimental Procedure:

• Hand Polishing: Using Emery paper 220,300,600,800,1000 and 1200

• Disc Polishing: Metallography specimen polishing machine is suitable for the

polishing of the specimen which has been grinded. The specimen surface is very smooth
after processing and can be used to observe and measure the metallography structure of
specimen under microscope.

• Cleaning with water: After the disc polishing the sample is washed using water

• Dry it with hair dryer: After washing the sample with water, it is dried using hair
dryer. The sample is kept at some angle so that the water is not dried on the surface of
sample.

• Etching: The sample is etched using suitable etchant. Etching is done in order to make
the microstructure of the sample more visible.

• Cleaning with water: The sample is quickly washed with water to avoid over
etching. Over etching will destroy the microstructure.

• Dry it with hair dryer

• The sample is observed using optical microstructure and observations

are made

• Analyze the microstructure

Results and observation:

Etchant: Nital (5ml HNO3 + 95ml ethanol) Etching Time: 3 second

Inference:
Steels with pearlitic (eutectoid composition) or near-pearlitic microstructure (near-eutectoid
composition) can be drawn into thin wires. Such wires, often bundled into ropes, are
commercially used as piano wires, ropes for suspension bridges, and as steel cord for tire
reinforcement.

Mechanical Properties and Applications of given sample:

Mild or Low Carbon steel sheet is highly acceptable by Diverse Industries due to its strength,
Malleability and affordability. Low Carbon Contain 0.05% to 0.25% carbon is steel which is
suitable for many applications such as Car body panels, Nuts & Bolts, food cans, Metal chains,
wire ropes, engine parts, bicycle rims, Nails & screws and various outdoor uses. pic shows you
some examples of Low carbon applications.
Summary:
The given specimen is identified as Mild Steel by performing metallographic examination.