Crystal Structure of Metals

Cooling Curve of Pure Metal

Crystalline structure /
Lattice Structure:
Crystallisation ends The atoms are
Temperature

arranged in a regular
Crystallisation begins geometric pattern

Time
Space lattice known as
Crystalline structure, Atomic structure,
Physical structure
The orderly
arrangement of
atoms in a
regular geometric
pattern.
Unit cell - the fundamental grouping
to form the symmetry of the crystal
Body-centred cubic

α
Face-centred cubic
Closed-packed Hexagonal
Temperature
Liquid
Crystallisation Crystallisation Grain
Boundary
begins ends
Solid

Grains

Nuclei

Time
Dendritic Solidification

Zinc
Nickel

Dendrite.exe
Dendritic Solidification
 Grain Structure
Grainboundary

Grain
Relationship between Processing,
Structure and Properties

Processing Structure

Performance Properties
 The Influence of Cooling Rates
on Crystal Size and Properties

Chill Crystal

Columnar grains
Large equiaxed grains

Mould
 Relationship between structure
and properties of metals

Generally a fine grain gives better

• Strength
• Toughness with reasonable ductility
Effect of the Process of Cold Working on
Grain structure and Properties

Distorted and
Equiaxed
elongated grains
crystals

Wire Drawing
 Shape of crystal grains

Equi-axed grain Distorted and

elongated grain
 !
"
#
Plain carbons steel
are alloys of iron and
carbon (up to 1.7%) and
silicon (not more than 0.6%) and
manganese (not more than 1.65% ).
Sulphur and phosphorus are extremely
harmful impurities
Liquid solution
• One or more substances dissolve
in another substance
 Solid solution
Solution of
one solid in another solid
Phases
Any substance which has
a homogenous structure
 Cooling curve of pure iron
Temperature oC

Liquid
1538 Solidification, B.C.C iron forms


1400 B.C.C iron changes into
F.C.C F.C.C. iron

910
Solid F.C.C iron changes
into B.C.C. iron
768

Non-magnetic iron
changes into
magnetic iron
Time
Allotropism ( allotropy )
the ability of a metal to exist
in more than one physical form.

Iron is an allotropic element

Temperature

F.C.C.
Carbon dissolves in F.C.C.
910°C
iron to form Austenite

B.C.C. Upper critical temperature

(U.C.T.)
Ferrite: carbon dissolves in B.C.C. iron

0 Carbon %
Pure iron
Temperature
1538
Liquid
1400

Austenite + Liquid+
liquid Cementite
910°C Austenite 1.7% 4.3%
Austenite+ Cementite
723°C
0.83%
Cementite
Ferrite Ferrite+Cementite

0.83 Carbon % 6.67

Temperature

910°C Austenite
Austenite +
Austenite
U.C.T cementite
+Ferrite
723°C
0.83% L.C.T
Ferrite +Cementite
Ferrite Carbon: <0.83% Carbon: >0.83%
Hypo-eutectoid Hyper-eutectoid
Steel Steel
Carbon content at 0.83%
Carbon %
Eutectoid steel
Austenite
Solid solution of carbon in F.C.C. iron

Properties:
Very soft
• Non-magnetic
Very ductile
Ferrite
Solid solution of carbon in B.C.C. iron;

Properties:
• Very ductile
Very soft
• Magnetic
Cementite
A compound, iron carbide
which is known as Cementite.
Fe3 C
Properties: Very hard and brittle
Pearlite
mechanical mixture of alternate
lamination of Ferrite and Cementite.
Property:
Highest tensile strength

    

  

   

  

    



 

  
Carbon dissolves Soft&Ductile,
in B.C.C iron magnetic

mixture of Strong
Ferrite & Cementite,

Carbon dissolves Soft&Ductile

in F.C.C. iron non-magnetic
Carbide, Fe3C Hard&Brittle
 Structure of steel - Eutectoid
Austenite
Cooling
Temp
slowly down

723°C

all
Pearlite
0.83% Carbon %
euetctic1.exe
 Steel with 0.83% C - Eutectoid Steel
Austenite at temperature above 723°C

At LCT of 723°C
Austenite changes into Pearlite
Layers of Ferrite & Cementite

At room temperature, microstructure is

100% Pearlite
 Hypo-eutectoid steel
Temperature
Austenite
Cool down

Ferrite Pearlite

723°C

0.45% C Carbon %
 Steel with 0.83% C - Eutectoid Steel
Austenite at temperature above 723°C

At LCT of 723°C
Austenite changes into Pearlite
Layers of Ferrite & Cementite

At room temperature, microstructure is

100% Pearlite
 Hyper-eutectoid steel
Temperature
Austenite
Cementite
Cooling slowly down

723°C

Pearlite

Carbon % 1.2% C
hypereuetctic1.exe
Steel with 1.2% C - Hyper-eutectoid Steel
Austenite at temperature above UCT
As temp drops below UCT,
Cementite begin to form along the
grain boundary
When it Cools down to LCT, The
remaining austenite changes to
Pearlite
Final Structure consists of
Cementite and Pearlite
 $ !
Ferrite Pearlite Cementite

% & '& ( )

& '- . )
*+ , *+ ,
% & '- . ) / & '- . )
0 0.83 1.4
Carbon content
 900N/mm2 Tensile strength
40%

Hardness
Ductility (%elongation)
Toughness
Cementite
Ferrite
Pearlite

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 C%

Increase in carbon contents in
steel will result in increase in
• Pearlite % ( up to 0.83% C)
• Tensile Strength ( up to 0.83%C)
• Hardness
Increase in carbon contents
will result in decrease in
Toughness
Ductility
Weldability
Machinability
Corrosion resistance
 Classification of Plain Carbon Steel
Carbon% Types of steel Properties
0.07-0.15 Dead mild steel
 


0.15-0.30 Mild steel
 



0.30-0.60 Medium Carbon Steel  

  

         
0.60-0.80 High Carbon Steel 
  
   

0.80-1.40 Carbon Tool Steel 

         
    
   
 Classification of Plain Carbon Steel
Carbon% Types of steel Properties
0.07-0.15 Dead mild steel
 


Application:
0.15-0.30 Rods,
Mild steel Tubes, Chain,
How about
0.30-0.60
Car body?
Medium Carbon Steel

0.60-0.80 High Carbon Steel

0.80-1.40 Carbon Tool Steel

 Classification of Plain Carbon Steel
Carbon% Types of steel Properties
0.15-0.30 Mild steel
 


0.30-0.60 Medium
Application: Carbon
Ship SteelSteel
plate, sections
0.60-0.80 High Carbon Steel Reinforcing
Bar
0.80-1.40 Carbon Tool Steel

Steel Section
Classification
0.07-0.15 Dead mildof
steelPlain Carbon Steel

 


Carbon% Types
0.15-0.30 Mild of steel
steel
 

Properties
0.30-0.60 Medium Carbon Steel   

  

         
0.60-0.80 High Carbon Steel 
  
   
Application: Gears, crankshafts, camshafts, axles
0.80-1.40 Carbon Tool Steel 
         
    
   
 Classification of Plain Carbon Steel

 

Carbon% Types of steel Properties

 

0.60-0.80 High Carbon Steel 
  
   
 
  

Steel
0.80-1.40 Carbon Tool         
Application: Railway

  rails,

  wrenches,

Hammers, band saws, screw drivers

         
    
   
 Classification of Plain Carbon Steel

 


Carbon% Types of steel
 


Properties
0.80-1.40 Carbon Tool Steel 
 
      

     
 
  
   

  
   
Application: Chisels, Punches, Drills, Files,

   tools
Axes, Razors, Lathe       
    
   
Files

Chisels Punch