pearlite

[pur-lahyt]

noun

1. Metallurgy.,  a microscopic lamellar structure found in iron or steel, composed of alternating layers of ferrite and cementite.

2. Petrography.,  perlite.

pearlite

/ ˈpɜːlaɪt, pɜːˈlɪtɪk /

noun

1. the lamellar structure in carbon steels and some cast irons that consists of alternate plates of pure iron and iron carbide

2. a variant spelling of perlite

Other Word Forms

• pearlitic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pearlite¹

First recorded in 1885–90; pearl + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

If the brand of available potting soil doesn’t contain pearlite, she lightens it with some so that pearlite is as much as one-quarter of the blend.

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A final steel will be composed of pearlite; ferrite and pearlite; or cementite and pearlite, according to the carbon content.

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He is then able to pick out its component minerals, ferrite, austenite, martensite, pearlite, graphite, cementite, and to show how their abundance, shape and arrangement contribute to the strength or weakness of the specimen.

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Its components are tending to coagulate into pearlite, and will do so in a fairly short time at temperatures near the lower critical, which heat will furnish the necessary molecular freedom.

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Just at this moment the lamination of pearlite, which now occupied its original area, was taking place.

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