Alloy
Having two or more chemical elements of which at least one is an elemental metal.
Alloying Element
An element added to a metal to change the properties of the parent metal
Austenite
The first phase formed as liquid steel freezes.
Bainite
Same as martensite but considerably less carbon is trapped. Forms from austenite if rate of cooling is in sufficient. Strength and hardness is between martensite and pearlite.
Brass
Copper / Zinc alloy
Bronze
Usually a Copper /Tin alloy However, there is also Aluminum bronze, Silicon bronze and Beryllium bronze
Cementite
Fe3C also known as Iron Carbide.
Cold Forming
Forming a metal at or near room temperatures using high pressures.
Ductility
The ability of a material to be plastically deformed without fracturing.
Ferrite
Iron with 0.02% dissolved carbon.
Forging (Hot)
Forming metal at high temperatures using high pressures.
Fracture Toughness
The ability of a material at a given temperature to resist further crack propagation, once a crack has started.
Hardness
The ability of a material to resist plastic deformation. The common measurement systems are Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers and Knoop.
Hot hardness
The ability of a material to retain its hardness properties at high temperatures. Also known as "red hard".
Hot strength
The ability of a material to retain its strength at high temperatures. The alloy H13 is used for this property.
HSLA Steel
High Strength Low Alloy Steel
Impact Toughness
The ability of a material to resist fracture under an impact.
I.T. Diagram
Isothermal Transformation
Inclusions
Impurities in a metal. Ie MnS (Manganese-sulfide)
Martensite
A supersaturated solid solution of carbon in iron. Carbon atoms trapped in an iron crystal. This is the hardest and strongest of the microstructures. Formed from austenite during quenching of hardenable steels.
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength, yield strength, and hardness
Metallograph
An inverted microscope using indirect lighting.
Microhardness
Hardness determined by using a microscope to measure the impression of a Knoop or Vickers indenter.
Microstructure
The phases or condition of a metal as viewed with a metallograph
Modulus of Elasticity
Measure of stiffness. Ratio of stress to strain as measured below the yield point.
Oxidation
The chemical reaction between oxygen and another atom
Pearlite
A lamellar aggregate of ferrite and cementite. Softer than most other microstructures. Formed from austenite during air cooling from austenite.
Phase
A physical condition of the arrangement of atoms in a crystal. eg, ice is a phase of water.
Physical Properties
Electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion and vibration dampening capacity
Plastic Deformation
Deformation that remains permanent after the removal of the load that caused it.
Steel
A solid solution of iron and carbon
Tensile Strength
The ratio of maximum load to the original cross-sectional area.
Yield Strength
The point at which a material exhibits a strain increase without increase in stress. This is the load at which a material has exceeded its elastic limit and becomes permanently deformed.
Having two or more chemical elements of which at least one is an elemental metal.
Alloying Element
An element added to a metal to change the properties of the parent metal
Austenite
The first phase formed as liquid steel freezes.
Bainite
Same as martensite but considerably less carbon is trapped. Forms from austenite if rate of cooling is in sufficient. Strength and hardness is between martensite and pearlite.
Brass
Copper / Zinc alloy
Bronze
Usually a Copper /Tin alloy However, there is also Aluminum bronze, Silicon bronze and Beryllium bronze
Cementite
Fe3C also known as Iron Carbide.
Cold Forming
Forming a metal at or near room temperatures using high pressures.
Ductility
The ability of a material to be plastically deformed without fracturing.
Ferrite
Iron with 0.02% dissolved carbon.
Forging (Hot)
Forming metal at high temperatures using high pressures.
Fracture Toughness
The ability of a material at a given temperature to resist further crack propagation, once a crack has started.
Hardness
The ability of a material to resist plastic deformation. The common measurement systems are Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers and Knoop.
Hot hardness
The ability of a material to retain its hardness properties at high temperatures. Also known as "red hard".
Hot strength
The ability of a material to retain its strength at high temperatures. The alloy H13 is used for this property.
HSLA Steel
High Strength Low Alloy Steel
Impact Toughness
The ability of a material to resist fracture under an impact.
I.T. Diagram
Isothermal Transformation
Inclusions
Impurities in a metal. Ie MnS (Manganese-sulfide)
Martensite
A supersaturated solid solution of carbon in iron. Carbon atoms trapped in an iron crystal. This is the hardest and strongest of the microstructures. Formed from austenite during quenching of hardenable steels.
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength, yield strength, and hardness
Metallograph
An inverted microscope using indirect lighting.
Microhardness
Hardness determined by using a microscope to measure the impression of a Knoop or Vickers indenter.
Microstructure
The phases or condition of a metal as viewed with a metallograph
Modulus of Elasticity
Measure of stiffness. Ratio of stress to strain as measured below the yield point.
Oxidation
The chemical reaction between oxygen and another atom
Pearlite
A lamellar aggregate of ferrite and cementite. Softer than most other microstructures. Formed from austenite during air cooling from austenite.
Phase
A physical condition of the arrangement of atoms in a crystal. eg, ice is a phase of water.
Physical Properties
Electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion and vibration dampening capacity
Plastic Deformation
Deformation that remains permanent after the removal of the load that caused it.
Steel
A solid solution of iron and carbon
Tensile Strength
The ratio of maximum load to the original cross-sectional area.
Yield Strength
The point at which a material exhibits a strain increase without increase in stress. This is the load at which a material has exceeded its elastic limit and becomes permanently deformed.
