Millwright Level 1 Practice Exam

Pearlite is primarily made up of which two elements?

1. Copper and carbon

2. Iron and carbon

3. Nickel and cobalt

4. Steel and aluminum

The correct answer is: Iron and carbon

Pearlite is a microstructure found in steel and cast iron that is primarily composed of iron and carbon. This structure forms when steel is cooled from austenite at a specific rate, allowing for a mixture of ferrite (a soft, ductile phase) and cementite (a hard, brittle phase) to coexist. The iron gives the alloy its basic metallic properties, while the carbon enhances hardness and strength, playing a crucial role in determining the mechanical properties of steel. The presence of these two elements—iron and carbon—enables pearlites to provide high mechanical strength and better wear resistance in metals, making it a fundamental component in the study of materials science, especially in metallurgical applications.