INCLUSION RATING IN STEELS AS

PER ASTM STANDARDS

MUHAMMED LABEEB
13MY06

INCLUSIONS
Inclusions are non metallic particles embedded in the steel matrix.
Chemical compounds of metals like (Fe, Mn, Al, Si, Ca etc) with non metals (O,
S, N, C, H)
Examples: SiO2,MnO,MgS,Ce2S3,AlN etc
Properties: An inclusion is a mismatch with the steel matrix. Both may have
different properties resulting in undesired effect.

INCLUSION RATING
Standard reference charts depicting a series of typical inclusion configurations (size,
type, and number) were created for direct comparison with the microscopic field of
view
Rating is done in comparison with the ASTM standard chart. [Designation: E 45]
Inclusions are assigned to a category based on similarities in morphology, that is, by
size, shape, concentration, and distribution, and not necessarily on their chemical
identity

CLASSIFICATION OF INCLUSIONS
Inclusions are classified into four categories (called Type) based on their
morphology
Each of them are classified into two subcategories based on their width or
diameter

CLASSIFICATION OF INCLUSIONS
A-Sulfide
Type

Although the categories contain chemical names

that imply knowledge of their chemical content, the
ratings are based strictly on morphology

B-Alumina
Type

heavy
thin
heavy
thin

categories

The four categories, or Types, are partitioned into

Severity Levels based on the number or length of
the particles present in a 0.50 mm2 field of view

C-Silicate
Type

D-Globular
Oxide Type

heavy
thin
heavy
thin

CLASSIFICATION OF INCLUSIONS
Type A and C inclusions are very similar in size and shape
They are distinguished based on their colour when viewed under brightfield illumination
Type A-Sulfide are light gray
Type C-Silicate are black

The B-type stringers consist of a number (at least three) of round or angular oxide particles
with aspect ratios less than 2 that are aligned nearly parallel to the deformation axis
The D-type are globular in shape

PROCEDURE
The minimum polished surface area of a specimen for the microscopic
determination of inclusion content is 160 mm 2 (0.25 in.2)
Field of view is 0.50 mm2 or square of side 0.71 mm
Either of two techniques may be employed to achieve a
0.50 mm2 field of view
One method is to project the microscope image onto a viewing screen that has a
square mask with 71.0 mm sides drawn on it
Another option is to use a reticle made for the microscope, which will superimpose the
required square mask directly onto the field of view

PROCEDURE
Inclusions are classified into the before mentioned four types
After the inclusions are categorized by Type, they must be categorized by
thickness or diameter- thin and heavy series
After classification by type and thickness, the severity levels are determined for
the inclusions comparing with the chart
These values can be numerically calculated as length or number based on the
limits given in standard Table (given below)

COMPARISON CHART- A (Sulfide type)

COMPARISON CHART- B (Aluminate type)

COMPARISON CHART- C (Silicate type)

COMPARISON CHART- D (Globular type oxides)

PROCEDURE

REFERENCES
R E SMALLMAN Modern Physical Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
P C ANGELO Materials Characterization
ASTM E 45 05 - Standard Test Methods for Determining the Inclusion Content
of Steel
ASTM E 1245 - Practice for Determining Inclusion or Second-Phase Constituent
Content of Metals by Automatic Image Analysis