UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING


Solidification of a steel containing less than 0.51% C.

Solidification begins when temperature falls to T
1
and dendrites of
-iron (BCC) begins to form.
Crystallisation continues as the composition changes along phase
curve (until 1492
0
C).
Peritectic reaction then occurs between -iron and liquid producing
austenite. No further change until line A
3
is reached.
As temperature falls below T
2
, formation of -iron. As temperature
decreases further the amount of -iron increases at the expense of
austenite.
Composition of austenite increases up to 0.8%C. and the
composition of the -iron also changes.
Max. carbon content of ferrite is 0.02 %. At 723
0
C

HYPOECTECTOID STEEL (<0.8%)
Ferrite + Pearlite (ferrite & cementite)
EUTECTOID (0.8%)
Pearlite (ferrite & Cementite)

HYPER EUTECTOID (>0.8%)
Cementite + Pearlite (ferrite & Cementite)
USING THE LEVER RULE
S. Venkannah Mechanical & Production Engg. Dept.

Weight of ferrite =
Weight of cementite

As temperature falls below 723
0
C, all austenite transforms to
pearlite.

Weight of ferrite =
Weight of pearlite

Considering 1kg of a specimen containing 0.4% C,

Weight of ferrite = 0.8 - 0.4 = 1/1 ------(I)
Weight of austenite 0.4 - 0.02

At temperature below 723
0
C (A
1
line)

Weight of ferrite = 0.8 - 0.4 = 1/1 ------(II)
Weight of pearlite 0.4 - 0.02

but pearlite contains ferrite and cementite. To determine ratio of
ferrite to cementite in pearlite

Weight of ferrite = 6.67 - 0.8 = 7.53/1 ------(III)
Weight of cementite 0.8 - 0.02

To determine the total amount of ferrite present.
S. Venkannah Mechanical & Production Engg. Dept.

Total amount of ferrite = ferrite from (I) + ferrite from (III)

Total weight of ferrite = (1/2 * 1) + [(7.53/8.53)(1/2 * 1)] = 0.941 kg

Weight of ferrite in pearlite = fraction of ferrite * (Amount of pearlite)
= [(7.53/8.53)(1/2 *1)]

Instead of going thro steps (II) and (III), the ratio weight of ferrite to
weight of cementite can be calculated directly,

Weight of ferrite = 6.67 - 0.4 = 16.5/1 ------(IV)
Weight of cementite 0.4 - 0.02

Weight of ferrite present = 16.5/17.5 * 1 = 0.943 kg
S. Venkannah Mechanical & Production Engg. Dept.