Characterization of the Microstructure of A Breakout Steel Sample

Abstract

Ignatius C. Okafor, Ben Lovell and Douglas Ambrosio

The microstructure of a continuously cast break out of low carbon steel has been studied using optical microscopy; SEM/EDS and EBSD analysis techniques. SEM and EBSD studies were carried out on two different locations on one sample piece and the resulting room temperature grains were found to be mostly BCC α- ferrite phase. Their orientations (using Euler angles) were determined. No meaningful amount of FCC phase was indexed after two patterns indexed on the two locations of the sample piece. The FCC comprised only 0.02% to 0.08% of the total patterns indexed. EBSD maps for the two locations, along with pole figures and grain size charts were deduced for the BCC phase. Volume fraction of the phase was estimated. Reconstruction of the Prior Austenite Grain Boundary was made from the alpha grains data using AztecWave software (AZtecCrystal). Only a small amount of the prior austenite grain boundaries was determined suggesting that the size of the parent grains were significantly larger than the map area in each case.

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