Optical Microscopy for Observing

Microstructures of Materials

Umair Siddique: 130301031

Ali Zahid Ramay: 130301042
Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad.

Contents

1) General Introduction
2) Types of Optical Microscopes
3) Our Experimental Work
(Annealing and Normalizing)
4) Literature Survey
5) Images of Microstructures we got
6) Results, discussion and conclusion

Introduction
Use of Optical Microscope is popular.
Enables us to observe the Internal
Structure of materials.
The information obtained can be used
to improve the materials processing
and properties.
Practically can be used up to 2000x.
Grain sizes in the range of 1-100m.

Typical Microstructural Features

Microscopy can give information
concerning a materials composition,
previous treatment and properties.
Grain Size
Inclusions, Pores, Defects, Twin
Boundaries
Phases present
Distribution of phases
Elongated structures formed by
plastic deformation etc

Types of Optical
Microscopes
Reflected Light (OM)
Light is reflected from the surface.

Transmitted Light (OM)

Specimen is so thin that light passes through
it.

Stereo Microscopes
Dont require any sample preparations and
are generally used to observe fracture surfaces,
cracks, fibers and electronic circuit boards, etc.

Experimental Work

We took two Mild Steel Samples

Annealed one sample
Normalized the other
Prepared the samples surfaces by
metallography (Grinding, Polishing, Etching)
to be able to view their microstructures.
Took photographs of Microstructures
Performed the Vickers hardness test
multiple times to get an average Vickers
Hardness value for annealed and
normalized sample.

Literature Survey
Annealed
Slow Cooling (Furnace
Cooled)
Less hardness, tensile
strength and toughness
Pearlite is coarse and
usually get resolved by
the optical microscope.
Grain size distribution is
more uniform
Internal stresses are least

Normalized
Fast Cooling (Still Air)
Slightly more hardness,
tensile strength and
toughness
Pearlite is fine and usually
appears unresolved with
optical microscope.
Grain size distribution is
usually less uniform.
Internal Stresses are

Photographs we
captured

Annealed
100x

Slightly Coarse
Pearlite
Grain Size Distribution is more
uniform
Internal Stresses are less

Normalized
100x

Slightly Fine
Pearlite
Grain Size Distribution is slightly less
uniform Stresses are slightly more
Internal

Annealed 200x

Normalized
200x

You can notice the slight differences in the microstructures of

both samples.
Our samples were of Mild Steel (Low Carbon Content), thats the
reason difference in the microstructures are not too evident.

Annealed 400x

Pearlite is slightly coarse.

Grain Size Distribution, more
uniform.
Internal Stresses are less

Normalized
400x

Pearlite is slightly fine

Grain Size Distribution, less
uniform
Internal Stresses are slightly

Vickers Hardness Values

Annealed
Sample

Normalized
Sample

We got 140HV30

We got 220HV30

Observation Confirmed:
Annealed Mild Steel sample has less HV as
compared with Normalized Mild Steel
sample.

Conclusion
Even the carbon content was low, still the
HV of normalized sample was very good as
compared with Annealed Sample.
Grain size distribution difference in the
annealed and normalized samples
microstructure
In annealing there was enough time (due
to slow cooling rate) for the carbon content
to make coarse pearlite unlike normalizing
Cooling rate is very important. Its
difference caused change in properties of
both samples.

References
G. E. Dieter, Engineering Design: A Materials and
Processing Approach, McGraw hill, 3rd edition.
Y. Lakhtin and N. Weinstein, Engineering physical
metallurgy and heat treatment,
Engineering Metallurgy- Part I by R. A. Higgins
S. H. Avner, Introduction to physical metallurgy, TATA
McGraw hill, 2nd edition.

Acknowledgements
Mr. Sharjeel Ahmad
Dr. Abdul Wadood (PhD),
Assistant Professor
Mr. Sikandar
Mr. Ayub

stions?

Thank You!