Question

Identify the composition of A36 steel, the phases present in the microstructure, and make an educated guess for the reason there seems to be a preferred horizontal orientation in the grains of the darker phase. Would this cause anistrophy? Why?

Answer 1

Composition of A 36 steel is 99wt%Fe-0.25wt%C-0.75wt%Mn. In its microstructure pearlite and ferrite are present. This is a low carbon steel. When you are solidifying this steel heated to austenite phase, on cooling down initially peoeutectoid phase is formed. On cooling below eutectoid temperature, remaining austenite is transformed to pearlite. Pearlite is with eutectoid composition and have alternate layers of ferrite and pearlite. Thus won't make anisotropy as it is a solid solution.