Assignment1

Xiaodan Geng
1. Determine as precisely as possible the specific composition of each of
these steels.
AISI 1010: It is composed of (in weight percentage) 0.08-0.13% Carbon (C),
0.30-0.60% Manganese (Mn), 0.04%(max) Phosphorus (P), 0.05%(max)
Sulfur (S), and the base metal Iron (Fe).
AISI 1035: It is composed of (in weight percentage) 0.32-0.38% Carbon (C),
0.60-0.90% Manganese (Mn), 0.04%(max) Phosphorus (P), 0.05%(max)
Sulfur (S), and the base metal Iron (Fe).
rail steel of near-eutectoid composition: carbon content near 0.77 wt%

2. What is the expected microstructure of these three steels assuming near

equilibrium cooling? Be specific and quantitative.
Which phases do you expect to be present for each steel?
AISI 1010: proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite (+ Fe3C)
AISI 1035: proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite (+ Fe3C)
rail steel of near-eutectoid composition: pearlite (a lamellar or layered
structure of two phases: -ferrite and cementite Fe3C)

Quantitatively, what fraction of each phase do you expect?

AISI1010: Wp=(0.77-0.1)/(0.77-0.0218)= =89.55%
WFe3C=1-Wp=10.45%
AISI1035: Wp=(0.77-0.35)/(0.77-0.0218)=56.13%
WFe3C=1-Wp=43.86
rail steel of near-eutectoid composition: Wp100%

3. What can be learned from a phase diagram about the expected grain size in
the material? (Justify your answer, be specific.) What do you expect for the
grain size in these materials, and why?

Fig.1
For AISI1010 and 1035, if the cooling rate is slow, the grain size is small.
AISI 1035 contains more carbon, so it will have more large grain size with
proeutectoid .
And for rail steel, the pearlites interlamellar spacing and grain size is relevant
to the heating temperature, cooling rate. Since the 1035 with heat treatment
and 1010 usually using in cold condition, so 1035 may have greater grain size.
But after recrystallization, grain size becomes smaller.

4. List the steps of how to prepare a sample for optical microscopy.

Sectioning, mounting, grinding, polishing and etching.

Discuss how you would approach a totally unknown metal sample.

Find the density from mass and volume.
Find the specific heat capacity using a calorimeter in a closed system.
Then we can know the main composition.
Make the sample and observe the microstructure to determine the phase and
carbon content.
Do different heat treatment, measure the hardness, elastic modulus, tensile
strength and so on to know the exact type.

 What are key concerns to keep in mind for an unknown sample?

We concern about the criterion and type of the metal. Is it belonging to low
carbon metal, middle, or high? In addition, what are the main alloy elements?
What does the phase and microstructure like now and what heat treatment has
it done?

5. Briefly explain the benefits and limitations of using optical microscopy

inmetallography.
Benefits:
Preparation steps are basic.
Do not need a vacuum path through light source to the sample.
Limitations:
The properties of illuminating source will influence the image.
Wavelength is much higher, so the resolution is lower.
Maximum magnification is 1000x.
The sample should be opaque or super thin.

Reference
[1] http://tubingchina.com/Carbon-Steel-1010.htm
[2] http://tubingchina.com/1035-steel.htm
[3]Overview of Pearlitic Rail Steel: Accelerated Cooling, Quenching,
Microstructure,

and

Mechanical

Properties,

Satyam

Sahay,

Goutam

Mohapatra, George Totten

[4]SAMPLE PREPARATION FOR MICROSCOPIC AND SPECTROSCOPIC
CHARACTERIZATION OF SOLID SURFACES AND FILMS SHARMILA M.
MUKHOPADHYAY Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering,
Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
[5]Figure1: University of Tennessee, Dept. of Materials Science and
Engineering
http://web.utk.edu/~prack/MSE%20300/FeC.pdf