Characterization and morphological analysis of pearlite in a eutectoid steel

Three different morphologies of pearlite have been formed isothermally at t hree temperatures in a eutectoid steel. The interlamellar spacings of these morphologies have been measured by scanning and transmission electron micr oscopy. A comparison of these experimental results and the interlamellar sp acing calculations using a theoretical model previously developed has allow ed some standardization to be established for the morphological characteriz ation of pearlite, in terms of sample preparation, examination conditions, and quantitative metallography procedures. It has been found that using sca nning electron microscopy, the morphological characterization of pearlite w ith interlamellar spacing finer than 0.085 mum could lead to unreliable res ults, since the strain induced during metallographic preparation of very fi ne pearlite destroys the lamellar morphology of pearlite. In that case, it is advisable to measure the interlamellar spacing of pearlite using transmi ssion electron microscopy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserv ed.