In the present study both fusion based - laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), and solid state - additive friction stir deposition (AFSD) additive manufacturing processes were employed for the manufacturing of a metastable high entropy alloy (HEA), Fe40Mn20Co20Cr15Si5 (CS-HEA). A processing window was developed for the LPBF and AFSD processings of CS-HEA. In case of LPBF, formation of solidification related defects such as lack of fusion pores (for energy density ≤ 31.24 J/mm3) and keyhole pores (for energy density ≥ 75 J/mm3) were observed. Variation in processing conditions affected the microstructural evolution of the metastable CS-HEA; correlation between processing conditions and microstructure of the alloy is developed in the current study. The tendency to transform and twin near stress concentration sites provided excellent tensile and fatigue properties of the material despite the presence of defects in the material. Moreover, solid state nature of AFSD process avoids formation of solidification related defects. Defect free builds of CS-HEA using AFSD resulted in higher work hardening in the material. In summary, the multi-processing techniques used for CS-HEA in the present study showcase the capability of the AM process in tailoring the microstructure, i.e., grain size and phase fractions, both of which are extremely critical for the mechanical property enhancement of the alloy.

[pt] Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de melhorar as propriedades mecânicas dos metais de solda produzidos por eletrodos oxidantes com níquel, juntamente com adições de cobre e de molibdênio, através do refino de grão ou do endurecimento por solução sólida. Os eletrodos oxidantes se caracterizam por apresentar menores teores de hidrogênio difusível quando comparado aos eletrodos rutílicos. Entretanto o metal de solda depositado com este tipo de eletrodo possui propriedades mecânicas inferiores aos eletrodos rutílicos, já que elementos de liga importantes, como Mn e Si, são perdidos por oxidação. Com a intenção de contornar esta situação procurou-se adicionar elementos de liga que não sejam significantemente afetados pelo caráter oxidante do revestimento, como Cu ou Mo. Foram preparados dois corpos de prova para soldagem, nos quais foram usinados furos espaçados e um rasgo para adição de ambos elementos, Cu e Mo. As diferentes porcentagens destes elementos foram medidas através da microanálise por Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva. A partir desses resultados foi realizada análise microestrutural utilizando a Microscopia Ótica, medidas do tamanho de grão, além do ensaio de microdureza para avaliar a influência de cada elemento no metal de solda. Os resultados mostraram que o molibdênio teve uma forte influência na microdureza do metal de solda quando comparado ao cobre. Em relação ao tamanho de grão, eles apresentaram influências opostas, a adição de maiores teores Mo acarretou uma diminuição do tamanho de grão e a com a adição do Cu ocorreu um pequeno aumento do grão até tornar-se constante. / [en] This work was carried out to improve the mechanical properties of weld metals deposited by nickel oxidizing electrodes, together with additions of copper and molybdenum, through the grain refinement or by solid solution hardening. The oxidizing electrodes are characterized by the lower levels of diffusible hydrogen and, hence, by the lesser possibility of cold crack formation when compared to rutile electrodes. However, the weld metal deposited with this type of electrode shows mechanical properties below that obtained by rutile electrodes, as long as important alloy elements, such as Mn and Si, are lost by oxidation. In order to avoid this situation and obtain weld metals with better mechanical properties it was added alloy elements that are not significantly affected by the oxidant character of the coating, such as Cu and Mo. Two test specimens were prepared for welding, where spaced holes and a notch were machined in each one for the addition of both elements, Cu and Mo. Different percentages of these elements were measured by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy microanalysis. From these results it was performed microstructural analysis using optical microscopy, grain size measurements and microhardness tests to evaluate the influence of each element in the weld metal and compare them to each other. The results showed that molybdenum has a stronger influence on the microhardness of the weld metal than copper. Regarding the grain size it was noted an opposite influence of the elements, where the addition of Mo caused a decrease of the grain size and the addition of Cu caused a slightly increase, until the grain size becomes constant.

Submitted by Celso Bortolini Júnior null (celsobortjr@gmail.com) on 2016-03-14T21:15:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Celso Bortolini Junior.pdf: 5854950 bytes, checksum: e97a433411ce86089561ffba7119ff02 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-03-15T13:34:55Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 bortolinijunior_c_me_guara.pdf: 5854950 bytes, checksum: e97a433411ce86089561ffba7119ff02 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T13:34:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 bortolinijunior_c_me_guara.pdf: 5854950 bytes, checksum: e97a433411ce86089561ffba7119ff02 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Titânio e suas ligas são utilizados em implantes biomédicos devido a suas excelentes propriedades de volume, como resistência mecânica. Porém, tais propriedades estão diretamente ligadas à microestrutura, que por sua vez depende do processamento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a microestrutura e a evolução da recristalização da liga Ti30Ta deformada a frio, após tratamento térmico. Os lingotes da liga Ti30Ta foram obtidos em um forno de fusão a arco voltaico. A liga foi tratada em um forno tubular sob vácuo a 950ºC por 24 horas para garantir a homogeneidade química e então foi forjada a frio em barras de 10 mm de diâmetro. As amostras foram solubilizadas a 900ºC por 2 horas e temperadas em água. Discos de 3 mm de espessura foram usados para análise. Para a avaliação da recristalização, foi realizado um tratamento térmico a 750ºC, 800ºC e 850ºC por 12 horas seguido de têmpera em água. A morfologia, composição e estrutura foram investigadas usando microscopia óptica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, microscopia eletrônica de transmissão e difração de raios X. As análises de microscopia e difração de raios X indicaram a presença apenas da fase martensítica α'' na amostra solubilizada e a presença das fases α'' e α' nas amostras recristalizadas. Os ensaios mecânicos mostraram que houve uma melhoria nas propriedades mecânicas após a recristalização, sendo a temperatura de 750° que teve maior influência, porém houve também um incremento no módulo de elasticidade, o que é indesejado. / Titanium and its alloys have been used in biomedical devices due their excellent bulk properties, such as mechanical strength. However, these properties are very sensitive of microstructures which depend of the processing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microstructure and evolution of recrystallization of the could-swaged Ti30Ta alloy after heat treatment. Ingots of Ti30Ta alloy were obtained in arc melting furnace. Alloys were treated at 950° C for 24 hours for chemical homogenization in vacuum tubular furnace and cold worked by swaging into rods with 10 mm in diameter. Samples where then solution treated at 900° C for 2 hours and water quenched. Discs with 10 mm in diameter and 3 mm in thickness were used for analysis. For recrystallization evaluation, heat treatment was carried out at 750º C, 800º C and 850º C for 12 hours followed by water quenching. The morphology, composition and structure were investigated using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and XRD (X-rays Diffraction Analysis). The microscopy and XRD analysis indicate the presence of the martensitic phase α'' for the solution treated sample and the presence of both α'' and α' phases for the recrystallized samples. Mechanical tests shows an increase in the mechanical strength to all the samples after recrystallization, with the temperature of 750° being the most impacting, however, it led an unwanted increase to the elastic modulus.

As ligas de magnésio atraíram a atenção novamente nos últimos anos por causa de suas propriedades de baixa densidade, resistência à tração e rigidez específica. Por outro lado, a maior limitação para o uso de ligas trabalhadas é a baixa conformabilidade em temperatura ambiente devido à estrutura hexagonal compacta (HCP) das ligas. O presente trabalho de pesquisa teve como objetivo estudar o encruamento, recristalização e crescimento de grãos durante a laminação de liga magnésio AZ31B em alta e baixa temperatura, analisando a evolução da microestrutura, da textura e a variação das propriedades sensíveis à microestrutura. A liga AZ31B é sensível à taxa de deformação em alta temperatura, entretanto, a anisotropia é negativamente afetada na laminação a frio, portanto, apresenta uma melhor laminação na faixa de temperaturas de 200 a 300ºC, devido ao refinamento de grãos, causado pela recuperação e recristalização dinâmica. O estudo foi realizado em amostras de uma chapa de liga de magnésio AZ31B recristalizada (2 mm de espessura). Amostras foram deformadas por laminação em temperaturas diferentes (25, 100, 200, 250 e 300ºC) e com diferentes taxas de deformação. A caracterização microestrutural foi realizada com auxílio de várias técnicas complementares de análise microestrutural, tais como microscopia óptica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, análise de raios-X por dispersão de energia, difração de raios X e microdureza Vickers. A deformabilidade e a ocorrência de recristalização dinâmica e crescimento de grãos mostraram forte dependência com as condições de laminação. Na laminação a frio, o refinamento de grão foi mais efetivo com baixas taxas de deformação (1,6 s-1) do que na laminação a quente. Entretanto, a intensa textura basal foi enfraquecida em temperaturas próximas a 300ºC e com taxas de deformação próximas a 3,5 s-1. A ductilidade das ligas pode ser melhorada em altas temperaturas de deformação, pelo refinamento dos grãos que produz a diminuição da fração volumétrica das regiões macladas e pelo aumento do número de sistemas de deslizamento, além do enfraquecimento da intensa textura basal, característica das ligas de magnésio. / Magnesium alloys have attracted the attention again in recent years because of their low density, their specific tensile strength and rigidity. However, the greatest limitation for the usage of wrought magnesium alloys is their poor formability at room temperature due to the hexagonal closed packed (HCP) crystal structure. The present research focused on study the work-hardening, recrystallization and grain growth during rolling of AZ31B magnesium alloy at low and high rolling temperature. It was made through the analysis of microstructure and texture evolution and variations of microstructure-sensitive properties. The AZ31 magnesium alloy is sensitive to strain rate at high temperature, meanwhile, the anisotropy is adversely impacted in cold rolling sheets. Thus, AZ31B magnesium alloy exhibits better workability in 200-300°C temperature range due to the grain refinement caused by dynamic recovery and dynamic recrystallization. This research was carried out on samples of recrystallized sheet (2 mm in thickness). Samples were deformed by rolling at different temperatures (25, 100, 200, 250 and 300°C), using different strain rates. Microstructural characterization was done by using several complementary techniques of microstructural analysis, such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray analysis by energy dispersive, X-ray diffraction and Vickers microhardness tests. A competition between dynamic recrystallization and grain growth depends on rolling conditions. Low strain rate (1,6 s-1) at cold rolling improved more effective in refining grains than warm rolling. Meanwhile, the intense basal texture was weakened at 300°C with a high strain rate of 3,5 s-1. The ductility of magnesium alloys can be greatly improved at high temperature, with a fine grain structure that causes the reduced volume fraction of twins, and an increase the number of slip systems, weakening the intense basal texture, rather characteristic for magnesium alloys.

Neste trabalho, foi estudada a sinterização de Nanoestruturas de zircônia estabilizada com ítria, ZrO2-Y2O3. Pós de ZrO2-3%mol de Y2O3 com tamanhos nanométricos e área superficial específica de 16,2 m2/g, foram compactados uniaxialmente em pressões variando entre 12,3MPa e 73,5MPa. Nestas pressões, as amostras compactadas atingiram densidade à verde entre 33% e 44,3%. Os compactos foram sinterizados por dilatometria de 1.250ºC até 1.4000C e os resultados indicaram que a temperatura de início de densificação está próxima a 1.0000C, independente da pressão de compactação aplicada. Temperaturas da ordem de 1.4000C são necessárias para a densificação total do compacto. Comparativamente pós microestruturados de ZrO2-3%mol Y2O3 (área superficial de 7,0 m2/g), foram compactados a 73,5MPa e alcançou densidade a verde de 44,2%. Este material apresentou início da retração próximo a 1.2000C, sugerindo que o uso de pós nanoestruturados reduziu a temperatura de sinterização em 2000C. A sinterização convencional dos pós nanoestruturado foi realizada em temperaturas entre 1.2500C e 1.4000C, com patamares entre 2 e 16h. Os pós microestruturados foram submetidos à sinterização em temperaturas de até 1.6000C, com os mesmos patamares. Os resultados indicaram que em todas as condições de sinterização e indiferentemente do pó utilizado, apenas a fase ZrO2 tetragonal foi encontrada. Além disso, a densidade relativa (DR) dos nanopós variou entre 92%(1.2500C-0h) e superior a 99%(acima de 1.3500C- 4h). Análises microestruturais indicaram a presença de grãos refinados com tamanho médio de 0,18?m (DR=92%,) para nanopós sinterizados a 1.2500C-0h, e tamanho médio de 0,95?m (DR=100%, 1.4000C-16h). Os pós micrométricos apresentaram tamanho de grão médio de 0,39?m (DR=98,8%) para cerâmicas sinterizadas a 1.5300C-0h e tamanho de grão médio de 1,84?m (DR=100%) para cerâmicas sinterizadas a 1.600-0h. Os expoentes de crescimento de grão calculados foram da ordem de 2,8 e 2,3 para. nanoparticulas e microparticulas, respectivametne, indicando que mecanismo de difusão pelos contornos de grão foi preponderante nos materiais estudados. Os valores de energia de ativação para o crescimento de grão calculados foram de 141,3kJ/mol e 244,7kJ/mol, respectivamente, indicando que os pós micrométricos necessitam de maior consumo energético para promover o crescimento de grão. Os resultados são discutidos em função de associar os fenômenos de densificação e crescimento de grão com o tamanho das partículas utilizadas. / We studied the sintering of nanoparticles of yttria stabilized zirconia, ZrO2-Y2O3. Powders of ZrO2-Y2O3 3 mol% with nanometric sizes and specific surface area of 16.2 m2/g, were uniaxially compacted at pressures ranging between 12.3 MPa and 73.5 MPa. Such pressures, the compressed samples reached the green density between 33% and 44.3%. The compacts were sintered by dilatometry up 1.400ºC and the results indicated that the onset temperature of densification is next to 1.000ºC, regardless of the compaction pressure applied. Temperatures of 1.400ºC are required to complete the densification of the compact. Compared microparticulate powders of ZrO2-Y2O3 3 mol% (specific surface area of 7.0 m2/g) were compressed to 73.5 MPa and green density reached 44.2%. This material exhibited the beginning of the next retraction 1.200ºC, suggesting that the use of powder nanopatticulados reduced sintering temperature of 200ºC. The conventional sintering of nanoparticle powders was undertaken at temperatures between 1.400ºC and 1.250ºC, with levels between 2 and 16h. The microparticulate powders were subjected to sintering at temperatures up to 1.600ºC with the same levels. The results indicated that under all conditions, and sintering the powder used interchangeably, only tetragonal ZrO2 phase was found. Furthermore, the relative density (RD) of nanoparticles ranged from 92% (1.250ºC- 0h) and greater than 99% (above 1.350ºC-4h). Microstructural analysis indicated the presence of refined grains with average size of 0.18 ? m (DR = 92%) for nanoparticles sintered at 1.250ºC-0h, and average size of 0.95 ?m (DR = 100%, 1.400ºC -16h). The powders were micron average grain size of 0.39 ?m (DR = 98.8%) to the sintered ceramic 1.530ºC-0h and the average grain size of 1.84 ?m (DR = 100%) of sintered ceramics the 1.600 ºC-0h. The grain growth exponents calculated were the order of 2.8 and 2.3 for nanoparticles and microparticles, respectively, and indicating that the mechanism of grain boundary diffusion was predominant in the studied materials. The values of activation energy for the grain growth were calculated 141.3 kJ/mol and 244.7 kJ/mol, respectively indicating that the powder micrometric require more energy to promote grain growth. The results are discussed in terms of the associated phenomena of densification and grain growth in the particle size used.

Les fontes à graphite sphéroïdal sont aujourd’hui très largement utilisées en raison de leurs bonnes propriétés mécaniques. La forme sphéroïdale du graphite est obtenue le plus souvent par l’ajout de magnésium ou de cérium lors de l’élaboration des fontes. Le graphite sphéroïdal peut être obtenu par graphitisation à l'état solide des fontes totalement ou partiellement solidifiées dans le système métastable. L’objectif de ce travail est d’étudier l’effet du traitement de graphitisation à l’état solide sur la croissance du graphite nodulaire d’une fonte à paroi mince qui présente une structure truitée à l'état brut de coulée. Cette fonte a été étudiée par microscopie optique, microscopies électronique à balayage et en transmission, spectroscopie Raman et spectroscopie de perte d'énergie des électrons. Des traitements thermiques assurant une graphitisation totale et partielle pour décomposer la cémentite formée à la solidification en graphite et en austénite ont été réalisés. Les nodules deviennent plus nombreux et leur taille augmente en fonction du temps de graphitisation. La microstructure après traitement thermique est composée de nodules de graphite et de ferrite. La spectroscopie Raman a été utilisée pour caractériser les nodules de graphite d’échantillons ayant été entièrement graphitisés à différentes températures dans le domaine austénitique. L’analyse par spectroscopie Raman ne montre aucune différence significative entre les spectres Raman enregistrés sur le graphite formé lors de la solidification et à l’état solide. Les caractérisations microstructurales par microscopie électronique en transmission montrent que le graphite à l’état brut de coulée présente une structure caractérisée par une zone interne où le graphite est désorienté. Une déformation mécanique due à la contraction lors de la solidification métastable induit la formation de cette zone. Cette zone disparaît par recristallisation après traitement de graphitisation totale pour former à la fin des secteurs coniques rayonnant à partir du germe et se développant vers la périphérie. Les résultats de ces travaux ont permis une meilleure compréhension de la structure de graphite nodulaire à l’état solide et montre aussi que le mécanisme de croissance du graphite nodulaire est le même lors de la solidification et de la transformation à l'état solide. / Spheroidal graphite iron castings are today widely used because of their good mechanical properties. The spheroidal shape of graphite is most often obtained by the addition of magnesium or cerium during the casting process. Spheroidal graphite can be formed at the solid-state by graphitization of cast irons which solidified partly or totally in the metastable system. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of solid-state graphitization treatment on the growth of nodular graphite of a thin wall casting which has a mottled structure at the as-cast state. This cast iron was studied using optical microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Heat treatments ensuring a total and partial graphitization to decompose the cementite formed at the solidification in graphite and austenite were realized. The nodules become more numerous and their size increases according to the time of graphitization. The microstructure after heat treatment is composed of graphite nodules and ferrite. Raman spectroscopy has been used to characterize graphite nodules in as-cast state and in samples having been fully graphitized at various temperatures in the austenite field. The results show no significant difference between Raman spectra recorded on these various samples, suggesting graphite grows with the same mechanism during either solidification or hightemperature (so-called first stage) graphitization. Transmission electron microscopy characterizations show that nodules in the as-cast material presents a multi-fold structure characterized by an inner zone where graphite is misoriented and an outer zone where it is well crystallized. In heat-treated samples, graphite nodules consist of well crystallized sectors radiating from the nucleus. These observations suggest that the misoriented zone appears because of mechanical deformation when the liquid contracts during its solidification. During heat-treatment, this zone disappears by recrystallization. The results of the present work lead to a better understanding of the nodular graphite structure in the solid state and also show that nodular graphite growth mechanism is the same during solidification and solid-state transformation.

With growing world population and decreasing fossil fuel reserves we need to explore and utilize variety of renewable and clean energy sources to meet the imminent challenge of energy crisis. Solar energy is considered as the leading promising alternate energy source with the pertinent challenge of off sunshine period and uneven worldwide distribution of usable sun light. Although thermoelectricity is considered as a reasonable energy harvester from wasted heat, its mass scale usage is yet to be developed. By transforming window glasses into generators of thermoelectricity, this doctoral work explores engineering aspects of using the temperature gradient between the hot outdoor heated by the sun and the relatively cold indoor of a building for mass scale energy generation. In order to utilize the two counter temperature environments simultaneously, variety of techniques, including: a) insertion of basic metals like copper and nickel wire, b) sputtering of thermoelectric films on side walls of individual glass strips to form the thickness depth of the glass on subsequent curing of the strips, and c) embedding nano-manufactured thermoelectric pillars, have been implemented for innovative integration of thermoelectric materials into window glasses. The practical demonstration of thermoelectric windows has been validated using a finite element model to predict the behavior of thermoelectric window under variety of varying conditions. MEMS based characterization platform has been fabricated for thermoelectric characterization of thin films employing van der Pauw and four probe modules. Enhancement of thermoelectric properties of the nano- manufactured pillars due to nano-structuring, achieved through mechanical alloying of micro-sized thermoelectric powders, has been explored. Modulation of thermoelectric properties of the nano-structured thermoelectric pillars by addition of sulfur to nano-powder matrix has also been investigated in detail. Using the best possible p and n type thermoelectric materials, this novel energy generation technique promises 304 watts of thermoelectricity from a 9 m2 glass window utilizing temperature difference of 20 OC. In addition to be useful even during off sunshine hours of the day, these energy harvesting windows will be capable of power generation even in the absence of a cooling systems inside the building as long as a natural temperature gradient exists between the two counter environments. With an increasing trend of having the exterior of buildings and high rises entirely made up of glass, this work offers an innovative transformation of these building exteriors into mass scale energy harvesters capable of running average lighting loads inside the building hence providing a complimentary source of electricity to the main power grid.

The cast products Mg–Sn based alloys are promising candidates for automobile industries, since they provide a cheap yet thermally stable alternative to existing alloys. One drawback of the Mg–Sn based alloys is their insufficient hardness. The hardenability can be improved by engineering the microstructure through additions of Zn to the base alloy and selective aging conditions. Therefore, detailed knowledge about the microstructural characteristics and the role of Zn to promote precipitation hardening is essential for age hardenable Mg-based alloys. In this work, microstructural investigation of the Mg–1.4Sn–1.3Zn–0.1Mn (at.%) precipitation system was performed using TEM. The chemical composition of the precipitates was analyzed using EDS. APT was employed to obtain precise chemical information on the distribution of Zn in the microstructure. It was found from microstructural studies that different precipitates with varying sizes and phases were present; lath-shaped precipitates of the Mg2Sn phase have an incoherent interface with the matrix, unlike the lath-shaped MgZn2 precipitates. Furthermore, nano-sized precipitates dispersed in the microstructure with short-lath morphology can either be enriched with Sn or Zn. On the other hand, APT analysis revealed the strong repulsion between Sn and Zn atoms in a portion of the analysis volume. However, larger reconstruction volume required to identify the role of Zn is still limited to the optimization of specimen preparation.

No description available.

[pt] O presente trabalho visa o desenvolvimento de um sistema automático de identificação do Grau de Maturação de pelotas de minério de ferro, envolvendo técnicas de microscopia digital e processamento e análise digital de imagens. As pelotas de minério de ferro, juntamente com o sínter e o minério granulado, constituem uma das matérias-primas básicas no processo de produção do ferro primário. Numa das etapas de sua produção, as pelotas adquirem diferentes características microestruturais, os chamados Graus de Maturação, que influenciam diretamente seu comportamento nos processos de redução. Sendo assim, a caracterização microestrutural constitui-se em uma importante etapa de controle de qualidade do material. A evolução da microestrutura de pelotas específicas para altos-fornos foi dividida em quatro classes: A, B, C e D. A partir das micrografias obtidas por microscópio ótico, foram extraídos atributos capazes de descrever características intrínsecas de cada classe (ou Grau de Maturação), posteriormente utilizados para treinar um classificador automático. Para tentativas de otimização do processo, foram utilizadas 3 técnicas para redução de dimensionalidade (Busca exaustiva do conjunto com a melhor taxa de acerto, Análise de Componentes Principais e Análise Discriminante Linear de Fisher), e testados 3 tipos de classificadores (Quadrático, Mahalanobis e Linear). A maior taxa de acerto global obtida foi acima de 90 por cento. Este resultado indica que a metodologia desenvolvida mostrou-se efetiva para a classificação automática do Grau de Maturação de pelotas de minério de ferro de alto-forno. / [en] The present work aims to develop an automatic system to identify the maturation degree of iron ore pellets, involving techniques of microscopy and digital image processing. Iron ore pellets, as well as sinter and lump ore, are the basic iron-bearing burden used in ironmaking. In one of the steps of their production, the pellets acquire different microstructural characteristics, the socalled Maturation Degree, which influences directly in the reduction processes. Thus, microstructural characterization is an important step in quality control of the material. The microstructure evolution of pellets for blast furnaces was divided into four classes: A, B, C and D. Attributes that describe intrinsic characteristics of each class were extracted from optical microscope images and were used to train an automatic classifier. Three dimensionality reduction techniques were tested to optimize the classification system: exhaustive search, Principal Component Analysis and Fisher’s Linear Discriminant Analysis. Three types of classifiers were tested (Quadrático, Mahalanobis and Linear). The highest global success rate was above 90 per cent. This indicates that this methodology is effective for automatic classification of the Maturation Degree in blast furnace pellets.