Measurement of Steel Structure Elements in the Specialized Module of the IMAGE-SP Image Processing Software

Abstract

Grain size is one of the most important characteristics of the microstructure of metals and alloys. Determination of the grain size of steel is regulated by Standart 5639-82 "Steels and alloys. Methods for detection and determination of the grain size". Standart includes determining the grain score by comparison with reference scales, as well as manual measurement methods. The use of image processing software opens up new opportunities for the materials analysis, including for the quantitative metallographic analysis of steels and alloys. The purpose of this work was to test the specialized "Metallography" module to determine the grain score of the image processing software "IMAGE – SP", as well as to check the reliability of the obtained results using the example of ferritic and austenitic steels. In the "Metallography" module, the analysis of standard images of annex No. 3 of Standart 5639-82, as well as real images of the structures of ferritic and austenitic steel, is carried out. It is shown that the results correspond to the definition of the Standart grain score. The divergence in the results is 1 point, which is acceptable. The active development of software products for the quantitative analysis of images in metallography will make it possible to legitimize the methods of computer measurement of parameters of the structures of metals and alloys by creating appropriate standards. Successful testing of the specialized "Metallography" module demonstrates opportunities and prospects for further development of specialized software products for measuring quantitative values of metal and alloy structures. The active development of software for quantitative analysis of the images in metallography will make it possible to legalize methods for measuring parameters of metal and alloy structures by computer techniques.