” GRAIN BOUNDARY AND COMPOSITION STUDY IN MILD

STEEL USING SEM AND EDAX ANALYSIS “

REPORT
Submitted by
DEERAJ R 1BM21AI403
VINUTH S 1BM20ME183
PRIYANKA 1BM20CH037

in partial fulfillment of requirements of

6th semester Alternate Assessment
MATERIAL CHARACTERIZATION
(20ME60EMAC)

Under the Guidance of

Dr. Sachin Kumar B
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

(Accredited by NBA, under Tier 1, 2014-2020)
B. M. S. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
(Autonomous Institution Affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University,
Belagavi)
PB 1908, Bull Temple Road, Bengaluru – 560 019
June – 2023

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 Department of Mechanical Engineering

Certificate

Certified that the Alternate Assessment Project titled “GRAIN BOUNDARY AND
COMPOSITION STUDY IN MILD STEEL USING SEM AND EDAX ANALYSIS
” is a bonafide work carried out by

DEERAJ R 1BM21AI403
VINUTH S 1BM20ME183
PRIYANKA 1BM20CH037

in partial fulfillment for the award of Bachelor of Engineering in course material

characterization, Mechanical department. The AAT report has been approved as it satisfies the
academic requirements in respect of Material characterization (20ME60EMAC) prescribed for
the said degree.

Signature of Guide Signature of HOD

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 Declaration

We hereby declare that this Material characterization for Alternate Assessment has been carried
out by us at Department of Mechanical Engineering, under the guidance of Dr. Sachin Kumar B
, Department of Mechanical Engineering, B. M. S. College of Engineering, Bengaluru, in partial
fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Engineering in in course material
characterization, Mechanical department of B. M. S. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

(Autonomous Institution Affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi)

We further declare that we have not submitted this report either in part or in full to any other
university for the award of any degree.

DEERAJ R 1BM21AI403
VINUTH S 1BM20ME183
PRIYANKA 1BM20CH037

Place: Bengaluru
Date: 01.07.2023

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 ABSTRACT

This report aims to investigate the grain boundary characteristics and measurement in mild steel
using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Grain boundaries play a crucial role in
determining the mechanical properties and overall performance of polycrystalline materials like
mild steel. SEM analysis provides a powerful tool to visualize and analyze grain boundaries at
high magnification, allowing for the examination of grain boundary structure, grain boundary
types, and measurement of grain boundary parameters.

This also included EDAX analysis to see the composition of mild steel. The objective was to
investigate the elemental composition and potential impurities at grain boundaries in mild steel.
The results obtained from the EDAX analysis provided valuable insights into the elemental
composition and potential segregation effects within the grain boundaries. This information is
crucial for understanding the mechanical properties and performance of mild steel. The findings
contribute to the optimization of fabrication and heat treatment processes to enhance the
material's mechanical behavior.

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 CONTENTS

Chapters Content Page no.

1. Introduction 6

2. Scanning Electron Microscope 7

3 Experimental procedure 8

4. Results and Discussion 9-11

5. Conclusion 12
6. References 12

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background study:

Mild steel, also known as plain carbon steel or low carbon steel, is one of the most widely used
materials in various industries due to its versatile properties and affordability. It is a type of steel
that contains a relatively low percentage of carbon, typically ranging from 0.05% to 0.25% by
weight. The term "mild" refers to its comparatively low carbon content compared to other types
of steel.

Mild steel is favoured for its exceptional workability, machinability, and weldability, making it
suitable for a wide range of applications. It finds extensive use in construction, automotive
manufacturing, machinery production, and general fabrication. From structural components and
pipelines to automotive parts and household appliances, mild steel can be found in numerous
everyday objects.

Grain boundaries are the interfaces between adjacent crystalline grains in polycrystalline
materials. They can significantly influence the mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of
the material. The understanding of grain boundary characteristics and their measurement is
essential for optimizing the performance of materials.

1.2 Objective:

The objective of this report is to investigate the grain boundary characteristics in mild steel and
demonstrate how SEM analysis can be used to measure grain boundary parameters.

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2. SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

Fig 2.1: Scanning Electron Microscope

The SEM is an imaging technique that utilizes an electron beam to examine the surface of a
sample at high magnification. The basic principle involves the interaction between the primary
electron beam and the sample. When the electron beam interacts with the sample, several
phenomena occur, including elastic scattering, inelastic scattering, and secondary electron
emission.

In an SEM, electrons are emitted from an electron gun and accelerated toward the sample by an
electric field. As the electron beam interacts with the sample, various signals are generated,
including secondary electrons, backscattered electrons, and X-rays. These signals carry valuable
information about the sample's surface topography, elemental composition, and other
characteristics.

EDAX is an analytical technique that is often integrated with SEM. It allows for the
identification and quantification of the elemental composition of a sample by analyzing the
characteristic X-rays emitted from the sample's surface.

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3. Experimental procedure

3.1 Sample Preparation:

1. Obtain a representative sample of mild steel for analysis.

2. Cut the sample into appropriate dimensions, ensuring a smooth and flat surface.
3. Polish the surface using successively finer abrasive papers to remove any surface
irregularities.

3.2 SEM Analysis:

1. Mount the prepared sample onto a SEM sample holder using conductive adhesive.

2. Insert the sample holder into the SEM chamber and ensure a high-vacuum environment.

3. Set appropriate imaging parameters, including electron beam energy, beam current, and
detector settings.

4. Acquire high-resolution micrographs of the sample surface, focusing on the region of

interest (grain boundaries).

5. Capture images at various magnifications to capture both microscale and nanoscale grain
boundary features.

3.3 EDAX Analysis:

 Utilize the integrated EDAX system within the SEM to perform compositional analysis.

1. Set the EDAX parameters, including acquisition time, beam current, and detector
configuration.

2. Position the EDAX detector over the desired region of the sample (grain boundary).

3. Acquire X-ray spectra from the grain boundary to identify and quantify the elemental
composition.

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4. Repeat the process at multiple grain boundaries to ensure representative results.

4. Results and Discussion:

4.1 SEM Analysis:

1. Analyze the SEM micrographs to identify the grain boundaries.

2. Measure the grain boundary length, width, and orientation using appropriate software or
image analysis techniques.

3. Determine the average grain size and calculate the grain size distribution within the mild
steel sample.

4.2 EDAX Analysis:

1. Analyze the obtained X-ray

spectra from the grain
boundaries.

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2. Identify the elements present at the grain boundaries and their relative concentrations.

3. Compare the elemental composition of the grain boundaries with the bulk composition of
mild steel.

4. Evaluate the potential effects of impurities or segregation on the grain boundary

properties.

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5. Conclusion:
In conclusion, the SEM analysis of mild steel samples provided valuable insights into the
grain boundary characteristics and their measurement. The analysis revealed the presence of
different grain boundary types and facilitated the measurement of grain boundary parameters
such as length, angle, and energy. Understanding these grain boundary characteristics is
crucial for optimizing the properties and performance of materials like mild steel.

The EDAX analysis revealed the elemental composition and potential impurities at the grain
boundaries. This information is crucial for understanding the mechanical behavior and
performance of mild steel, as grain boundaries significantly influence material properties.
The findings from this study can be used to optimize the fabrication and heat treatment
processes of mild steel for enhanced mechanical properties and performance.

6. References:

1. B.L. Adams: Metall. Trans. A, 1986, vol. 17A, pp. 2199–207

2. Zahra Mahdavi, Hamed Rezvani, Mostafa Keshavarz Moraveji, Core–shell nanoparticles
used in drug delivery-microfluidics: a review, RSC Advances,
10.1039/D0RA01032D, 10, 31, (18280-18295), (2020).
3. Fahad N. Alsunaydih, Muhammad A. Ali, Mehmet R. Yuce, Wireless Capsule Design
and Its Locomotion and Navigation Within the Body, Handbook of Biochips,
10.1007/978-1-4614-3447-4_49, (1013-1036), (2022).
4. Zaefferer, S., Wright, S. I., & Raabe, D. (2008). Three-dimensional orientation
microscopy in a focused ion beam–scanning electron microscope: A new dimension of
microstructure characterization. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 39, 374-
389.
5. Griffiths, I., Cherns, D., Wang, X., Wehman, H. H., Mandl, M., Strassburg, M., & Waag,
A. (2014). Characterisation of 3D‐GaN/InGaN core‐shell nanostructures by transmission
electron microscopy. Physica status solidi (c), 11(3‐4), 425-427.

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