Effects of Process Parameters on Ferrite Grain Size of Commercially Pure Iron

Abstract

Besides the tremendous development of various materials, e.g. polymeric, ceramic, composites materials, etc. ferrous material is still the most important engineering material because of its many favorable properties. For ferrous alloys, grain size is very important as it directly influences the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the alloys. In this study the effects of various process parameters such as annealing temperature, holding time period during annealing and phosphorus (P) additions (0.11% and 0.21%) have been investigated. After annealing heat treatments at different temperatures for various time periods, the alloys were etched in nital to reveal the ferrite grain sizes and they were then observed in the optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Experimental results revealed that annealing temperatures were more dominating over annealing time periods to control ferrite grain sizes and that after 0.11% P, more addition of phosphorus (e.g. 0.21%) was not found to influence ferrite grain sizes significantly under any annealing condition practiced in this study.

Keywords: Pure iron; Fe-phosphorus alloys; Annealing; Ferrite grain; Grain refinement.

© 2011 JSR Publications. ISSN: 2070-0237 (Print); 2070-0245 (Online). All rights reserved.

doi:10.3329/jsr.v3i2.7012                 J. Sci. Res. 3 (2), 311-319 (2011)