Abstract:

At first a piece of cast iron was taken and polishing it by several grades emery paper. After
Polishing work piece surface should be clean by used cloths and then Nitric acid 3% and
Ethyl alcohol 97% used in work piece surface for visibility. The microscope view of the
surface of specimens was viewed by the microscope and some photos were taken by using
several lenses. It was showed that how was the mixture of the pearlite and ferrite into the
cast iron.
Introduction:
The purpose and scope of the experiment was to know that how was the decorated iron
carbon equilibrium diagram and how was the pearlite and ferrite mixture and its volume.
Ferrite is pure carbon and its color likes white. The mixture of ferrite and cementite is
pearlite and its color like black. Every substance in the world is consist of smallest particle
which is called atom. In metal also numerous particles are exist in particular shape and
size. We can find anything with substance is a magnified form. We can see the internal
structure shape, size, arrangement of several consider by its whole characteristics of
internal structure.
Ferrite: The carbon solubility in ferrite depends upon the temperature, the minimum being
0.02% at 723˚c.
Cementite: Iron carbide (Fe3C) a compound iron and carbon containing 6.6% carbon by
weight.
Pearlite: A fine mixture of ferrite and cementite arranged in lamellar form. It is stable at
all temperature bellow 723˚c. The carbon below 0.2% of the iron carbon diagram is steel.
If the percentage increase the possible of cast iron will be increase.
Description:
To achieve the expected shape of the specimen there are several process which should be
done very carefully and perfectly. Preparation of samples for microstructural involves a
process consists of number of steps. These steps include-
1. Intermediate Polishing.
2. Mounting the specimen.
3. Filling or rough grinding.
4. Intermediate Polishing.
5. Etching etc.
1. Sampling:
The choice of a sample for microscopic study may be very important. It a failure is to be
investigated, the simple should be chosen as close as possible to the area of failure and
should be compared with on taken from the normal section. As we are going to study about
mild steel so we’ve taken a cylindrical piece of mild steel.
2. Mounting the specimen:
Specimen are small or awkwardly shaped so they must be appropriately mounted in a
suitable material or rigidly clamped in a mechanical vice.
3. Filing or rough grinding :
Whenever possible, the specimen should be of a size that is convenient to handle. A soft
sample may be made flat by slowly moving it up and back across the surface of a smooth
file. Before filing operation we’ve attached our work piece into a vice. Filing is done in
one surface where the structure of mild steel is to be inspected. Filing ensure the
smoothness of the work piece and the better the smoothness the better the result.
4. Intermediate Polishing :
After sufficient filling we stopped filling and then start polishing by a series of emery
papers containing successively fine abrasives. The first paper is usually No
(220,320,500,1000,1500). This type of polishing helps to make mirror image type
smoothness on the test part. The important thing is to maintain the serial of the emery
papers.
Fine polishing:
In this stage, the specimens polished on a polishing machine which contain velvet clothe
on its rotator disc. In time of polishing operation we hold the smooth side of our specimen
on the rotator disc and given NH4Cl salt and water as a smoothing agent. The fine polishing
helps the leftover roughness from the specimen.
5. Etching:
The purpose of etching is two-fold. Grinding and polishing operations produce a highly
deformed, thin layer on the surface which is removed chemically during etching. Secondly,
the etchant attacks the surface relief which allows different crystal orientations, grain
boundaries, precipitates, phases and defects to be distinguished in reflected light
microscope. There are many tried and tested etchants available but there are mandatory
safety issues associated with the preparation and use of all of these. Then it was fitted with
acid on the metal using Cotton Buds.
Inspection of microstructure of specimen:
After etching operation our work piece is ready for final inspection. The time we used
metallurgical microscope to view the micro structure of cast iron.
Inspection process:
This time we mount the smooth side of work piece on the metallographic microscope. After
putting the specimen on the microscope and setting at proper zoom we found a very clear
of the microstructure on the monitor of metallurgical microscope.
Characteristic of Cast Iron:
 From the monitor we’ve found that the microstructure of cast iron contains ferrite
and pearlite.
  As both ferrite and pearlite have very poor hardness so we can surely say cast iron
have poor hardness.
 As both ferrite and pearlite can be heat treated so we can say cast iron can be heat
treated to change its properties.
 As it possess poor hardness that’s why it can’t be used in engineering application
without heat treatment.
Experimental Apparatus:
 Cast Iron
 Buffing Discs
 Nitric acid
 Ethyl alcohol
 Cotton Buds
 Alumina Suspension
 A portable camera (5MP)
 Metallurgical Microscope
 Emery paper.(220,320,500,1000,1500) per Inch

Figure 1: Microscopic view of Cast Iron with the lens (20X)

 Pearlite

Ferrite

Graphite

Figure 2: Microscopic view of Cast Iron with the lens (20X)

Pearlite

Ferrite

Graphite

Figure 3: Microscopic view of Cast Iron with the lens (50X)

 Pearlite

Ferrite

Graphite

Figure 4: Microscopic view of Cast Iron with the lens (50X)

Discussion:
First of all if the specimens is not rubber, buffing and etching clearly, the microscopic view
will not clear. Work piece should be needed smooth and glossy. If the surface of work
piece not smooth and glossy it does not show clear in the monitor. For smooth and glossy
properly used work piece surface using by emery paper other it seen unclear. At the time
of used emery paper should be used at same direction. The some steps were performed
frequently therefore the fourth and fifth steps were performed for the long time to get a
clean view. The acid was used for etching which was used for etching which was the
mixture of HNO3(3%) and CH3-CH2-OH(97%) . If the microscopic view is not clear, the
arrangement of ferrite and pearlite will not understand clearly which is very important to
know as a metallic designer. But we’ve also fallen some great problem in the time of
performing this operation which are slow down our experiment greatly like one is, some
parts of the metal have been burnt due to relative high fall on acid metal. Acid was removed
from parts of the metal with the Cotton Buds knob ( Figure- 4). Metallic property always
depends on the microstructural into the metal.
Conclusions:
At the last stage of the experiment the process of discovered of the metallic structure was
known clearly. The observation through optical microscope gave a clear understanding of
the grain. It is possible to determine grain size and the size, shape and distribution of
various. The macrostructure will reveal the mechanical and thermal treatment of the metal
and it may be possible to predict its expected behavior under a given set of condition. It is
very important to know the microstructural properties of the metal.
References:
1. Lab Manual.
2. www.atri.edu.in