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MAT2320 Metals Microstructure Practical Session 1

In this practical you will be examining 7 metallic samples which have been prepared by
grinding and polishing and in some cases etching to reveal the microstructure. This set of
specimens illustrate, for simple alloys, how heat treatment and hot working influence the
microstructure. They show particularly how the original as cast structure may be somewhat
affected by heat treatment, but broken down by hot-working.
You are required to examine all of the samples in detail and answer the questions associated
with each sample; each answer will be worth 1 mark. You do not need to look at the samples
in the specific sequence shown on the script, but it will be useful for you to look at the
different materials in the order shown as they show the additive effects of processing. The
teaching team are available to help you with the equipment or to help you understand what
you need to do, but will not give you the answers to the questions. In some questions, you are
asked to estimate sizes of features or amounts and it is recommended that you show how you
came to the answer that you did. Please make sure that you hand in your completed script
before you leave.
Brass samples
The next 3 samples show the effect of annealing and cold working on the microstructure of a
cast brass sample.
CB1 - Brass 70%Cu 30%Zn
This brass sample has been made by casting and slowly cooling which produces a dendritic
structure with a coarse grain size. Consider the phase diagram below and think about what
solidifies first and last.

MAT2320 Metals Microstructure Practical Session 1 2014

>>> insert image(s) here <<<

1) Label the image to show which regions are copper rich and which are zinc rich.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2) The specimen has a coarse grain size. Estimate of the dendrite size.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3) From the phase diagram estimate the composition of the copper and zinc rich regions.

MAT2320 Metals Microstructure Practical Session 1 2015

CB2 Brass 70%Cu 30%Zn

Annealed 4hrs at 650oC
This is the same as CB1 (i.e. has been cast) but the sample has been annealed for 4 hrs. at
650oC. The sample has been etched in ferric chloride to reveal the microstructure.

>>> insert image(s) here <<<

4) How have the grain boundaries changed?

MAT2320 Metals Microstructure Practical Session 1 2015

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5) What has happened to the concentration differences that were present in CB1?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6) What are the black dots that remain within the grains?

MAT2320 Metals Microstructure Practical Session 1 2015

CB4 Brass 70%Cu 30%Zn

Deformed 50% annealed 30 mins. at 650oC.
This sample of cast brass has been rolled to reduce its thickness by 50% and subsequently
annealed. The deformation and annealing have resulted in recrystallisation.

>>> insert image(s) here <<<

MAT2320 Metals Microstructure Practical Session 1 2015

7) Estimate the grain size, how much smaller is it than in the cast structure?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8) What do you notice about the grain boundaries?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9) Why do grains differ in contrast?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10) What do you notice about annealing twin boundaries?

MAT2320 Metals Microstructure Practical Session 1 2015

Aluminium Alloys
The following 3 samples show the effect of solution treating, aging and extruding on the
microstructure of a cast aluminium sample.
Aluminium alloys often have less than 5% of alloying additions. A typical alloy is 6082
which contains 1.0%Si, 0.5%Fe, 0.8%Mn, 1.0%Mg and 0.25%Cr.
Some elements exhibit good solubility, but others have no or limited solubility. A classic low
solubility element is Fe. Elements with low solubililty form intermetallic compounds in the
aluminium matrix during solidification. These intermetallics have a profound effect on the
microstructure and subsequent properties. Their effect will be illustrated in this rather simple
alloy.
6082 is an alloy that age hardens at room temperature due to the formation of fine precipitate
particles. This process may be accelerated by ageing at a more elevated temperature.
However, you cannot normally see the fine precipitates in the optical microscope as they are
too fine- a transmission electron microscope is required. However, in this case the alloy has
been heat treated at a higher temperature than normal in order to reveal the precipitates at the
optical scale.
Al1 6082
As Cast, Unetched
In this sample, you can see that the intermetallic particles are found in the interdendritic
regions between the relatively pure aluminium dendrites.
The lighter coloured intermetallic with eutectic appearance is an iron rich phase,
(FeMnCr)3SiAl12
The darker intermetallic phase is Mg2Si is found decorating the grain boundaries.
>>> insert image(s) here <<<

MAT2320 Metals Microstructure Practical Session 1 2015

11) Label the phases on the micrographs.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12) Estimate the dendrite size.

MAT2320 Metals Microstructure Practical Session 1 2015

Al2 6082
Solution treated 1hr at 550oC, naturally aged, etched.
The solution treatment almost completely dissolves the Mg2Si phase. The iron rich phase is
only slightly dissolved.
The matrix contains a just visible precipitate phase which has a profound effect on the
hardness of such alloys through the classic precipitation hardening mechanisms.

MAT2320 Metals Microstructure Practical Session 1 2015

>>> insert image(s) here <<<

13) What does this sample suggest about the stability of the intermetallic phases?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14) What phase do you think the fine uniformly dispersed dark particles are?

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Al3 6082
As extruded, unetched
The extrusion process used has broken up the intermetallic particles seen in Al1.

>>> insert image(s) here <<<

15. What does this indicate about the mechanical properties of the particles?

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16. Looking at the shape of the particles, make an estimate of the amount of strain that the
matrix has received during extrusion.

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19 Austenitic stainless steel 0.05%C 18%Cr 9%Ni

Etched using Kallings.
This sample is a typical austenitic stainless steel.

17. Which microstructural features indicate that it has an fcc structure?

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18. Estimate the grain size and the frequency of twins in each grain.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------19. What are the lines of small dots stretched out in the rolling direction?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20. Why do you think the second phase has this morphology of small approximately
spherical particles?

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