Phase Identification, Microindentation Hardness testing

and Evaluation of Highperformance Materials

EGF301 - AAT-F1
TEAM 1
Leonard Chew 101459X
Leonard Leslie 100687J
Cole Lee 104276Q

Lab Exercise 3
Objective:
To identify the grains and different phases present in etched specimens of ferrous
and non-ferrous materials. 2 sets of etched specimens of carbon steel (heat-treated
and non-heat treated), aluminium alloy, and titanium material were provided.

Equipment used in this experiment:

1) Olympus optical microscope linked to a computer

2)
3)

Mounted
samples
Computer

Procedures for Part A:

1. Place the sample of Carbon Steel 1 onto the sliding bed of the
microscope.

2. Adjust the lens to the required magnification of 200X and focus the
microscope with the fine adjustment knob.

3. Take pictures of
the connected

the samples with

computer.

4. Repeat the
200X and 500X
for all 4 of the

procedures to obtain
microscope pictures
provided samples.

Results obtained for Procedure Part A:

Fig. 1a Carbon Steel Sample 1 200X Magnification

Fig. 1b Carbon Steel Sample 1 500X Magnification

1025 steel that was normalized by austenitizing at 1093C and air cooling. Coarsegrain structure consisting of pearlite (black constituent) in a matrix of ferrite (white
constituent).

Fig. 2a Carbon Steel Sample 1 200X Magnification

Fig. 2b Carbon Steel Sample 1 500X Magnification

10B35 steel austenitized in an atmosphere that had a carbon potential that more
nearly matched that of the steel, at 871 C for 1 hr, water quenched, tempered at
232C for 1 hr. core is tempered martensite, surface of the specimen is less
decarburized.

Fig. 3a Aluminium sample at 200X magnification

Fig. 3b Aluminium sample at 500X magnification

Alloy 7075-O sheet, annealed. The fine particles of MgZn, (dark) were precipitated
at lower temperatures, during heating to, or cooling from the annealing
temperature. The insoluble particles of FeAl, (light grey, outlined) were not affected
by the annealing treatment.

Fig. 4a Titanium sample at 200X magnification

Fig. 4b Titanium sample at 500X magnification

TI-6Al-4V forging, solution treated 1 hr at 954C, water quenched (before anneal),

annealed 2 hr at 704C. equiaxed alpha grains (light) in transformed beta matrix
(dark) containing finer, acicular alpha. The fast cooling resulted in the finer acicular
alpha in the transformed beta.

Procedures for Part B:

We are to perform micro-indentation hardness testing on etched
specimens.
1. Zero set the machine
2. Place sample on the clamp of the indentation machine, as indentation
force is low, no need for clamping.

3. Make sure that the test area on the sample is clear of scratches/dents

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

by inspecting it under the optical microscope. Damaged surfaces can

cause inaccuracy of results.
Start indentation. Make sure that no one shakes/knocks the table
during the process; else the indentation will be inaccurate.
Switch from indenter to optical microscope and measure the size of
the indentation using the knobs.
Hardness value will be calculated by the computer and displayed.
Record down the value.
Repeat step 3 to 6 and get the second hardness value.
Repeat steps above to obtain hardness values for all 4 samples.

Results obtained for Procedure Part B:

Sample no.

Material

Test Load

CS2

Carbon steel
heat treated
Titanium alloy
Carbon steel
non heat

Ti
CS1

0.5KG

Hardness
value #1
530.7 HV

Hardness
value #2
577.0 HV

0.5KG
0.5KG

339.4 HV
200.7 HV

329.2 HV
212.7 HV

Al

treated
Aluminium
alloy

0.5KG

150.0 HV

143.4 HV

Table 1. Hardness values of samples

Discussion of results. comments on results obtained,

comparison between different materials, between

different test condition or using theories
From the experiments above, we can observe different phases present in the
microstructure and also different hardness of various engineering materials.
Although 2 samples have the same material and composition, they however,
can contain different phases due to heat treated processes.
Take carbon steel for an example. After carbon steel is heat treated, slow
quenching such as air cooling will result in coarse grains, large grain
boundaries to develop which can be brittle as it serves as weak spots in the
structure (Fig. 1b). Quick quenching however results in fine grains which are
more desirable as smaller grain size usually enhances mechanical properties,
such as toughness, shear strength and tensile strength (Fig. 2b).
Mechanical improvement by heat treatment can be observed from results
obtained in Part B (Table 1), heat treated steel is significantly harder than
non heat treated steel.

Conclusion
From the first exercise, we learnt to identify and inspect different phases
from looking at microstructure of steel, titanium and aluminium alloy.

We also learnt from the second exercise that hardness value varies in
different materials. Heat treated carbon steel is much harder than the non
heat treated one. Hence, it is vital to choose the correct heat treatment
method to obtain the right microstructure and thus meeting the required
material properties.
Hardness testing and phase identification can also be used for investigation
purposes, to find out whether the material has been properly heat treated or
not, giving the right mechanical properties.
Phase identification can be used to inspect turbine blades, to spot for
overheating, which can damage and weaken the blade. Overheating of one
turbine blade may mean that the whole stage or even turbine section is
overheated, thus more detailed inspection is required.