Topic > Title - Examination of the microstructure of steel

IndexIntroductionTheoryMaterial and apparatusProcedureDiscussionPossible errorsPossible improvementsConclusionObserve the constituents and structure of metals and their alloys using an optical microscope.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Introduction It involves examining the microstructure of steel and looking at its constituents and structure. Microstructure refers to the structure that requires high magnification to be visible. Microscopes are needed to examine the microstructure of steel. The conventional light microscope is commonly used, as well as the light microscope can be used to look through samples. However, we use the optical microscope, not the conventional optical microscope to observe the surface of the samples since many materials do not transmit light. Microscopes can provide information on particular material characteristics regarding the composition, processing and properties of the material. We examine the microstructure of steel using the optical microscope after grinding, polishing and applying the necessary chemicals to remove impurities from the steel sample. It is very important to prepare the sample correctly. Theory There are some procedures to follow before examining the microstructure of steel. They are: grinding, polishing, engraving and mounting. The steel sample must first be ground using rotating disks covered with silicon carbide paper and water. You need to apply light pressure to the center of the sample. We should continue grinding until the imperfections are removed. The steel sample should be clear and reflective. To polish the sample we use alumina powder or diamond paste. The sample should be placed on the rotating disk after pasting diamond paste or alumina powder. To reveal the microstructure of steel we use dilute acid (2% Nital for steel) to etch. After etching the sample must be washed with alcohol. The sample must be dried before examining the microstructure under the microscope. Five straight lines of the same length are drawn on the image of the microstructure printed on A4 paper, and then count the grains intersected by each line. Subsequently the total length of the lines is divided by the total number of grains. Then we can calculate the average grain size. Material and equipment A sample of steel Grinder and polisher Optical microscope Alumina powder or diamond paste Alcohol Dilute acid (2% Nital for steel) Mounting resins Water Procedure A sample of steel to be examined has been sawn The sample has been ground It is been polished using alumina powder or diamond paste, until a mirror image was projected. Then the sample was etched in dilute acid (2% Nital for steel). The incised section was then washed with alcohol and left to dry. Subsequently, the sample was placed at the focus of the lens of an optical microscope and the microstructure was observed. The microscope image was printed on an A4 sheet. Five straight lines of the same length were drawn on the microstructure. Then the grains covered by the lines were counted. and added them all together. Finally the total length of the lines was divided by the total number of grains and the average grain size was calculated. Discussion The phases present in the observed microstructures are the grain and the grain boundaries. In the above experiment, the microstructure of steel was observed. When we describe the structure of the material we must considertwo main things. They are the crystalline structure and the microstructure. To describe the appearance of the material we use the microstructure and to describe the average position of the atoms in a unit cell we use the crystal structure. So metals have a crystalline structure, which is normally not visible to the naked eye. When the metal melts and heats up, millions of crystals begin to grow. When the melting is finished, the crystals cool and become large crystals. This large crystalline form of the material is called grains. In a crystal structure there are millions of grains that have their own orientation and crystal structure. The areas between grains are called grain boundaries. Grain boundaries are the areas between grains. Simply we can say that the interface between two grains is called grain boundary. In the crystal structure, the grain boundaries are the 2D defects. Low-angle and high-angle grain boundaries are the different types of grain boundaries. If the misorientation between two grains is less than 15 degrees, it is called a low-angle grain boundary. And even when the disorientation exceeds 15 degrees we speak of a high-angle grain boundary. The study of the structure of metal is known as metallography. Preparing the sample for examination is an important part of metallography. To obtain correct observation and interpretation of the microstructure, the sample must be prepared appropriately. Sample selection, sectioning, grinding, polishing, and etching are all about sample preparation. There are some important parameters in champion selection. They are the number, position and orientation of the examined sample. The surface of the sample must be smooth and with a mirror finish. So we need to section, sand and polish for that. We must exercise caution during sample preparation as artifacts can lead to invalid interpretation of the microstructure. To reveal the microstructure most materials are etched. Next, using the optical microscope, the samples are examined. Metallography is a very important part of examining the microstructure of steel. Quality control is the most important thing in metallography. Metal cutting causes some side effects. It will change the surface properties and deformed layers will be created on the surface. These deformed layers are different from the underlying metal. Metallographers apply techniques to remove these shattered layers. In some areas, microstructural testing techniques are used. Some of them involve quality control, failure analysis and research. To determine whether the structural parameters are within specific specifications, microstructure analysis is used. And it is also used in quality control. As a result of various parameters such as heat treatment, composition or processing steps, some changes in the microstructures will occur. To determine such changes, microstructural analysis is used in research studies. Using metallography we are able to observe steel samples. As well as determining the causes of failure of massive steel structures. Using metallography we can identify the causes of failure of massive steel structures.Possible errorsWe must carry out the polishing process according to the required standards. Otherwise, we will not be able to get the correct image easily and correctly. You need to use a new steel sample for the experiment. A piece of steel previously used for the same experiment or an old piece of steel will cause errors. Because rust will form again. When we calculate the..