MAT2600 Microstructures Lab Report

Jacob Smith

Frame 4, Group 1

Reg No: 140162279

Introduction
The aim of this lab is to test three different samples of steel with varying levels of carbon
content to ascertain their material properties, and to compare our findings with those of the
material research industry.
Methodology
The samples tested were S275 (0.1wt% Ct), EN8 (0.4wt% C) and CS70 (0.8wt% C). Three
stages were undertaken to test the samples. Firstly, dimensions for the width and
thickness were taken to compare the before and after values. A Zwick-Roell machine was
used to pull a 25mm sample and take measurements of the force and extension which
were used to calculate the stress and strain of the samples. The results of engineering
stress/strain as well as true stress/strain are plotted below in figure 1 and figure 2
respectively. The second step was to examine the microstructure of the samples. They
were looked at under a microscope in order to see the distribution of carbon.
What the Microstructure Shows
Upon examination of the samples, it was evident that the dark patches in the otherwise
silvery grey of the material increased as expected from S275 to EN8 to CS70. The pearlite
phase was seen in all 3 samples, with approximate values of 10%, 50% and 80%
respectively. The more pearlite present in the sample, the higher strength the material has
due to the addition of grain boundaries.
Results

True Stress / Strain

Results From Practical

Property/Characteristic

S275

EN8

CS70

Sample Thickness
Before/After (mm)

1.21/1.50

1.67/1.42

1.84/1.59

Sample Width Before/

After (mm)

6.05/3.80

5.90/5.16

5.89/4.66

Sample Length Before/

After (mm)

25.00/31.80

25.00/31.20

25.00/28.70

% Elongation at Fracture

27.2%

24.8%

14.8%

% Reduction in Area

47.9%

25.6%

31.6%

137

153

157

Youngs Modulus (GPa)

Upper/Lower Yield
Stress (MPa)

407/397

506/493

769/769

0.2% Yield Strength

418

380

700

Ultimate Strength (kPa)

490

1270

1630

Estimated Pearlite
Fraction

0.1

0.5

0.8

Published Values
Property/Characteristic

S275

EN8
210

Youngs Modulus (GPa)

Upper/Lower Yield
Stress (MPa)

440/300

0.2% Yield Strength

280-420

Ultimate Strength (kPa)

400-560

Estimated Pearlite
Fraction

210
465/450

210
415/335

450
700-850

335
560-680

16% 20-30%

% Elongation at Fracture 10-14%

% Reduction in Area

CS70

65.6%

50%

40%

15%

40%

80%

Analysis
As expected, the tested samples exhibit a higher yield strength with an increase in carbon
content, hence CS70 was the strongest of the steels. However, it was also the steel which
had the shortest total extension. From this we can deduce that an increase in carbon also
produces a lower ductility (i.e. more brittle).
In the higher carbon steel, CS70, there is a higher amount of pearlite, which leads to
strengthening of the bonds within the microstructure, meaning that it is harder for
dislocations to occur. Conversely, the graphs for S275 and EN8 show a greater
percentage elongation (~25% as opposed to ~15%) because the lower carbon content
allows for dislocations more easily, which mean the metal will deform elastically for a lot
longer before finally failing.
The values for our upper and lower yield strength are similar to those of the published
values, however, there are some discrepancies in the % reduction in area, this could be
due to poor measuring of the cross-section by human error.