REVEALING THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF LOW CARBON

STEEL
MFET 3750
KELBY SAYER

INTRODUCTION
When steel is viewed through a microscope, it is observed that a series of grains are present of
different shapes, sizes, and colors. These grains are made up of a crystalline structure and are
separated from each other by grain boundaries. This network of crystals is known as the steels
microstructure.
The different colors of the grains identify what each of the crystalline structures are. The three
main structures we will be observing will be ferrite, cementite, and pearlite. The ferrite structure
will appear as the white grain while the pearlite will appear as the black grain. The cementite will
be observed within the pearlite as the dark section of the striped pattern. Although cementite can
be present in different forms, it has the striped appearance in our specimen because it is in a
layered form.
The specimen used in this lab is a piece of AISI 1020 cold rolled low carbon steel. Cold rolled
steel is formed when the steel is well below its recrystallization temperature of 1700F.
Therefore, the crystals shape and size will be forced to fit the new shape and size of the steel
when it is formed. See Figure 1.

Figure 1 Grain elongation about the Xaxis during Cold Roll process.

OBJECTIVE
This lab demonstrated several different methods to prepare a metal specimen for observation of
its microstructure under a microscope. These methods were grinding/rough surfacing, polishing,
and etching. The quality performed in each method would determine the outcome of the
following method and would greatly affect the end results.

MATERIALS

AISI 1020 Cold Rolled Low Carbon

Steel
o Yield Strength: 39900 psi
o Ultimate Strength: 68900psi
o Elongation: 25%
o Hardness Rockwell B: 84
o Carbon Content: 0.17%0.23%
o Size: .75X.75
Wet sandpaper 60, 120, 240, 320,
400, and 600 grit

5 micron and 1 micron Aluminum

oxide polishing compound
Polishing cloth
2% Nital solution (2% Nitric acid,
98% alcohol)
Microscope 200x to 400x minimum,
800x to 1000x preferred (episcopic
illumination type)
PSE Safety glasses, Rubber gloves

PROCEDURE

First, the specimen was de-burred and had its corners removed to reduce the potential of
snagging on the polishing pads. Both X and Y/Z surfaces of the specimen were identified,
with Y/Z being the saw cut surface and X being the mil scaled surface. With the use of a
polishing wheel, the grinding process of the X surface began, starting off with the 60 grit
sandpaper. Running water was placed over the pad to maintain a cool temperature in the
specimen as it was being ground. The specimen was ground until the surface was flat and
uniform with all the grinding lines flowing in one direction. The specimen was then
rinsed off to remove all of the grit and the 60 grit sandpaper was exchanged for 120 grit
sandpaper. Rotating the specimen 90, the process was repeated and the grinding finished
once all of the 60 grit lines had been removed by 120 grit lines at 90. The specimen was
rinsed again to remove the grit and continually ground in the same manner with the 240,
320, 400, and 600 grit sandpapers. To preserve the microstructure, a conservative amount
of pressure was applied each time. Also, a conservative wheel speed was maintained
throughout the process.

After the grinding process, the specimen was polished. After ensuring a good rinse of all
the grit from the specimen, a wet 5 micron polishing wheel was installed and the
specimen was polished in the same manner as it was ground, only exempting water in
exchange for the 5 micron polishing solution. Once the 600 grit lines were removed by
the 5 micron wheel, the 1 micron wheel was installed and the process repeated using the
1 micron polishing compound. The grinding and polishing processes were repeated for
the Y/Z surface.

Next, the specimen was carefully dried without scratching the polished surfaces. The
specimen was etched by placing a few drops of 2% Nital solution on a polished surface.
The specimen was quickly rinsed once the polished surface began to have a cloudy
appearance, indicating etching had taken place. The process was repeated on the
remaining polished surface and the specimen was carefully dried.

Once etched, the specimen was examined under the metallograph to determine if
additional etching was required. If the surface appeared too dark, the specimen was over
etched and required polishing to remove the etching to be re-etched. If the surface was
too light with no appearance of grain boundaries, the specimen required another
application of the 2% Nital. Once the right amount of etching was achieved, the specimen
was examined under the metallograph and photographs were taken for analysis.

RESULTS

From the images taken from the metallograph, the microstructure of the specimen was
distinguished into its three properties which are pearlite, ferrite, and cementite. In Figure
2, circle 1 shows a grain of cementite, circle 2 shows a grain of pearlite, circle 3 shows a
grain of ferrite, and the arrow shows a grain boundary. Similarly, Figure 3 has circle 1
showing a grain of cementite, circle 2 shows a grain of ferrite, circle 3 shows a grain of
pearlite, and the arrow shows a grain boundary. It should be noted that cementite can be
present in the form of small particles, plates or layers and that in our specimen, it has
formed in layers.

Figure 2 Image of X surface taken at 800x magnification.

Hardness tests were also administrated on the specimen on both the X surface and the
Y/Z surface. Each side received three tests. The three test readings were averaged to give
an average hardness of each side. The results can be seen below in Table 1.

Figure 3 Image of Y/Z surface taken at 800x magnification.

Table 1 Average hardness of each axis.

Hardness Rockwell B
HRB
87.6

Y/Z
Axis
X

82.2

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

It is observed that the pearlite in Figure 2 is spread out more than in Figure 3 where it is
more concentrated. Since the specimen is cold rolled, it makes sense that the pearlite is
more concentrated on the Y/Z surface than it is on the X surface. Figure 1 demonstrates
how grain structure is altered during the cold roll process.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that during the cold roll process, the grain structure is elongated
about the X axis, resulting in larger pearlite grain separation in the X surface. This
process clearly makes the material harder on the X surfaces as shown in Table 1.