pearlite

American  

[pur-lahyt] / ˈpɜr laɪt /

noun

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

2. Petrography. perlite.

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pearlite British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• pearlitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of pearlite

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.

From Seattle Times

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

This structure of thin sheets has received the name "pearlite," because of its pearly appearance under sunlight.

From Project Gutenberg

Pure iron, having no carbon, naturally would show no pearlite when examined under a microscope; only abutting granules of iron are delicately traced.

From Project Gutenberg