AS 2197—1978

Australian Standard
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MICROGRAPHIC
ASSESSMENT OF THE
NON-METALLIC INCLUSION
CONTENT IN WROUGHT STEEL
 The following scientific, industrial and governmental organizations and departments
were officially represented on the committee entrusted with the preparation of this
standard:

Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia

Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
Confederation of Australian Industry
Department of Defence
Federated Chamber of Automotive Industries
Institute of Steel Service Centres of Australia
Metal Trades Industry Association of Australia
Railways of Australia Committee
Society of Automotive Engineers— Australia
Telecom Australia
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University of New South Wales (School of Metallurgy)

This standard, prepared by Committee MT/18, Metallography, was approved by the

Metals Standards Board on behalf of the Council of the Standards Association of
Australia on 31 May 1978, and was published on 1 November 1978.

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This standard was issued in draft form for public review as DR 76060.
 AS 2197—1978

Australian Standard
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METHOD FOR THE

MICROGRAPHIC
ASSESSMENT OF THE
NON-METALLIC INCLUSION
CONTENT IN WROUGHT STEEL

First publi shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1978

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 1526 0
 AS 2197—1978 2

PREFACE

This standard was prepared by the Association’s Committee on Metallography to

provide a method for the micrographic assessment of the non-metallic inclusion in
wrought steel products by comparison with standard diagrams.
The method specified is in general agreement with ISO 4976*, but deviates in regard
to sampling and the rating number system. The committee considered the practicability
of including the standard sectioning of bars during the sampling process as given in
ISO 4967, but decided against its inclusion, since it was considered impractical
because of variations in the cross-sectional microstructure of wrought steel. In regard
to the rating number system, classification ‘0’ has been introduced to cover fields of
observation where no inclusions of a particular class are observed and classification
‘6’ to cover inclusions greater than 5. In addition, the requirement for examination of
each polished test piece has been reduced from 100 fields to 30 fields in order to
reduce the time involved in performing a test.
Attention is drawn to Appendix B, Jernkontoret and ASTM Standard Diagrams, and
it is emphasized that there is no direct comparison between Plate 1 (Jernkontoret) and
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Plate 2 (ASTM).

* ISO 4967 Steel — Determination of Content of Non-metall ic Inclusions— Micrographic Method using
Standard Diagrams.

CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD .... .. ... .. ..... ..... .................. .... .. .... 3
METHOD
1 Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. . . . 3
2 Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . .. 3
3 Principle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. . . . 3
4 Preparation of Test Pieces . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. . .. 3
5 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . .. 3
6 Assessment and Expression of Results . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. . .. 4
7 Test Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. . .. 4

APPENDICES

A Supplementary Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. 5
B Jernkontoret and ASTM Standard Diagrams . . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. 6
C Example of Assessment of a Field . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . . 22
D Calculation of Average Field Rating Number . .. . . . .. . . . . . .. . . 24

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 3 AS 2197—1978

STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
METHOD FOR THE MICROGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF THE NON-METALLIC
INCLUSION CONTENT IN WROUGHT STEEL

FOREWORD
The method of comparison of micrographic images to those obtained by quantitative methods such as
with standard diagrams may result in significantly chemical analysis which is often used for oxygen and
different inclusion content being reported from sulphur contents to give a measure of the oxide and/
operator to operator. Results obtained by the method or sulphur content present.
outlined in this standard should therefore only be Other methods available which give quantitative
considered as semi-quantitative. It should be noted results include manual point or line counting, and
that the results obtained are not directly related automatic scanning methods.
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METHOD
1 SCOPE. This standard describes a method for the The diagrams on the JK chart are given in
micrographic assessment of the non-metallic inclusion Appendix B. Plate I is taken from the Jernkontoret
content in wrought steel products by comparison with method and Plate II from ASTM.
standard diagrams. Results from the use of Plate I should not be
NOTES: compared directly with those obtained from Plate II.
1. This standard does not set limit s for the inclusion content of These diagrams are numbered 1 to 5 in Plate I and
steels. These limit s are normall y specif ied in the product
specif ication or determined by agreement. 0.5 to 2.5 in Plate II, the numbers increasing with the
2. Supplementary information necessary to complete the method surface area of inclusions, e.g. diagram A2 indicates
is set out in Appendix A. the shape of the inclusions observed under the micro-
2 DEFINITION. For the purpose of this standard scope is in accordance with Group A and that their
the following definition applies: distribution and quantity is in accordance with
number 2.
Non-metallic inclusion — non-metallic compounds and
mixtures in steel resulting from the entrapment of 4 PREPARATION OF TEST PIECES. To enable
deoxidation products or exogenous materials, such as inclusions to be observed in the longitudinal direction
refractories and hot topping compounds, or from the of working, wrought steel products are to be
precipitation of sulphides prior to, or during, sectioned in such a manner that the surface of test
solidification. pieces examined shall be at right angles to the
worked face and parallel to the direction of greatest
NOTE: Inclusion type, shape, size and distri buti on will vary
greatl y depending on the grade of steel, method of deoxidation, elongation.
size and shape of the ingot, amount of reducti on received, and During the preparation of a test piece every care shall
the posit ion in the ingot from which the sample is taken.
be taken to avoid the tearing out or deformation of
3 PRINCIPLE. Inclusions in longitudinal sections in inclusions, contamination of the polished surface, or
rolled or forged steels are assessed by comparison rounding of the edges.
with magnified images of polished test pieces with
standard diagrams which form the Jernkontoret chart Unless otherwise specified, test pieces shall be
(or JK chart). selected from locations which are relevant to the
application of the products and be of a size so as to
These diagrams correspond to fields of view of permit a polished face having an area of not less than
0.8 mm taken from a longitudinal section and 200 mm 2 .
observed at a magnification of 100 ×. According to NOTES:
the shape and distribution of the inclusions, the 1. For the assessment of a product which has received a large
standard diagrams are divided into four main groups, reduction during processing, e.g. stri ps, it may be necessary
bearing references A, B, C and D. The method of to take several test pieces fr om adjacent locati ons as a single
designation is based on the morphology of the test.
2. Where appli cable, and by agreement, several ingots or several
inclusion and not on the constitution of the inclusion bars and bill ets fr om one heat may be examined to obtain an
as follows: average field rating for that heat of steel.
3. When a rating is required to represent a large batch of steel
Group A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sulphide type fr om an ingot or a heat it is preferable to record a few fi elds
Group B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . alumina type on a large number of test pieces rather than a large number
Group C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . silicate type of fields on a few test pieces. In such cases, it is preferable
Group D . . . . . . . . . . . . . globular oxide type to assess the ‘worst field rati ng’ (see Clause 6.1).

NOTE: Each main group on the JK chart consists of two sub- 5 PROCEDURE. The entire polished surface shall
groups, each made up of fi ve diagrams representing be examined in the unetched condition using a
increasing contents of inclusions. These divisions into magnification of 100 × and an actual field diameter
sub-groups are merely intended to give examples of dif ferent of 0.8 mm. Any error in the magnification and in
thicknesses of non-metall ic part icles.
 This is a free preview. Purchase the entire publication at the link below:

AS 2197-1978, Method for the micrographic

assessment of the non-metallic inclusion content
in wrought steel
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