Name: 

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MSE464/564: Metals and Alloys

Spring 2021
Closed books, closed notes, no cell phone use

1. Filling the blanks.

a. Austenite-to-Pearlite transformation is a _____________________ (diffusional/non-

diffusional) transformation. Austenite-to-Bainite transformation is a
_____________________ (diffusional/non-diffusional) transformation. (4 pts)

b. High carbon content in a plain carbon steel results in _______________ (high/low)

strength and hardness. (2 pts)

c. Austenite phase has ______________________ (higher/lower/the same) carbon

solubility compared to ferrite phase. (2 pts)

d. _________________________ (Full annealing/Normalizing) creates coarser pearlite. (2

pts)

e. Higher temperature and longer time in pack carburizing results in ___________________

(higher/lower/the same) carbon diffusion depth. (2 pts)

f. The colors on a tempered steel are caused by formation of thin oxide film (2 pts)

g. The critical diameter of a high alloy steel is _____________ (higher/lower/the same)

compared to the critical diameter of a low alloy steel under the same heat treating
conditions. (2 pts)

h. Hardenability is defined as describes a steel’s ease to form martensite upon quenching

(2 pts)

i. A stainless steel has 16 wt% Ni and 0.1 wt% C and Fe balance, and therefore it is a
___________________ (ferritic, austenitic, martensitic, precipitation hardened) stainless
steel. (See the phase diagrams on Page 8.) (2 pts)

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 1 of 12

2. Both carburizing and nitriding are surface treatments for steels which are used to increase
hardness, wear resistance, and fatigue resistance at the surface while maintaining a tough,
and ductile core. Define carburizing and nitriding, and describe the difference of their
hardening mechanisms. (10 pts)

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 2 of 12

3. In the schematic TTT (or IT) diagram for a hypoeutectoid, plain carbon steel below, label the
phases (solid boxes), the microconstituents (dashed boxes) and temperatures (dotted boxes).
(10 pts)

Temperature (°C)

Log Time

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 3 of 12

4. Martensite can form in steels through heat treatment. Explain the heat treatment and phase
transformation involved during the formation of Martensite. Also describe the crystal
structure of Martensite and how the structure is formed. (10 pts)

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 4 of 12

5. What is the proeutectoid phase in 1030 steel? What is its weight fraction? What is the weight
fraction of carbides in the same steel just below the eutectoid temperature? Show your work!
(10 pts)

The proeutectoid phase is alpha

0.3-0.02/(6.67-0.02)= 4.2 weight percent carbides

(0.76-0.3)/(0.76-0.02) =0.62 weight fraction

6. What is the purpose of tempering? Explain the phase transformations involved in tempering.
Show the effect of tempering temperature on hardness, ductility, strength of a tempered steel
in one graph. (10 pts)

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 5 of 12

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 6 of 12
7. The micrographs below show two types of cast irons. Please specify which type of cast iron
is for each micrograph and compare the structure and property differences between these two
cast irons. (10 pts)

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 7 of 12

8. Hardenability
a. List two major variables in hardening steel. Briefly explain the role of each in obtaining a
fully martensitic steel. (2 pts)

Cooling rate and quenchant

b. A cylindrical steel sample with a diameter of 32 mm is quenched in Brine without

agitation. Is the Martensite content at its center higher than 50% or less than 50%? It is
known that this steel has an ideal diameter DI = 32 mm. Show your work. (8 pts.)

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 8 of 12

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 9 of 12
8. A TTT (or IT) diagram for plain carbon steel is given below. What are the phases and/or
microconstituents of a thin (0.1”) piece of this steel after the following heat treatments?
Explain your reasoning! Assume that diffusional reactions do not occur during quenches. (10
pts)

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 10 of 12

 a. Heat to 825 °C for 1 hr., quench to 650 °C and hold for 100 s, quench in cold water.

Alpha + Fe3C (outside line)

Or

Alpha + Fe3C + martensite (inside line)

b. Heat to 825 °C for 1 hr., quench to 600 °C and hold for 10 s, quench in cold water.

Alpha + Fe3C

c. Heat to 825 °C for 1 hr., quench to 450 °C and hold for 1 s, quench in cold water.

No diffusional transformation

Martensite

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 11 of 12

 A ss e s s e d F e - C p h a s e d ia g r a m .

MSE 464/564 Exam 1 Page 12 of 12