Introduction
Low Carbon Steel (LCS) has been extensively used in various engineering applications due to its good mechanical properties, including strength, machinability and weldability. Despite the widespread use of LCS, knowledge about its microstructure associated with hot rolling operation is limited. This paper aimed to analyze the microstructure of hot rolled (HR) LCS after selecting the samples of two different carbon contents (0.08%).
Methods
Two grades of LCS (0.08%, 0.10% carbon content) were samples. The LCS sheets were manufactured at the same temperature (1,000°C) and the same rate of reduction (99.7%). Samples were cut from a hot-rolled sheet. Scanning eld electron microscope (SEM) analysis was then performed on the samples to study the microstructure.
Results
The results of the SEM showed that the LCS specimens had a ferritic grain structure in the as- rolled condition. It was also observed that the average grain size of the two grades of steel was micro-meter range.
Discussion
The results of the SEM analysis indicate that the microstructure of the two grades of LCS is different. The microstructure of the 0.08% carbon content steel showed more ferrite and a smaller grain size than the 0.10% carbon content steel. This difference in the microstructure is attributed to the difference in the carbon content between the two grades of steel. The 0.08% carbon content steel was found to have a lower hardness due to the smaller grainsize which led to a higher yield strength. On the other hand, the 0.10% carbon content steel had a lower yield strength due to its larger grain size.
Conclusion
The results of the SEM analysis indicated that the microstructures of the two grades of LCS (0.08%, 0.10% carbon) are different. The 0.08% carbon content steel was found to have a lower hardness due to its smaller grainsize, leading to a higher yield strength, while the 0.10% carbon content steel had a lower yield strength due to its larger grain size. These results may be useful for designing suitable materials and components for a wide range of applications.