Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

How to calculate the total amount of 

phase (both eutectic and primary)?
Fraction of  phase determined by application of
the lever rule across the entire  +  phase field:

W = (Q+R) / (P+Q+R) ( phase)

W = P / (P+Q+R) ( phase)

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Intermediate Phases
So far only two solid phases ( and )
Terminal solid solutions

Some binary systems have intermediate

solid solution phases.
Cu-Zn:  and h are terminal solid solutions,
, ’, g, d, e are intermediate solid solutions.

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Intermetallic Compounds
Intermetallic compounds 
precise chemical compositions exist in some systems.
Using the lever rules, intermetallic compounds are
treated like any other phase,
They appear as a vertical line.

intermetallic
compound

Two eutectic diagrams: Mg-Mg2Pb and Mg2Pb-Pb.

Intermetallic compound Mg2Pb is considered a
component.
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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Eutectoid Reactions (I)

Eutectoid (eutectic-like in Greek) reaction
similar to eutectic reaction
One solid phase to two new solid phases
Invariant point (the eutectoid) 
Three solid phases in equilibrium
Upon cooling, a solid phase transforms into
two other solid phases (d  g + e below)

Cu-Zn

Eutectoid

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Eutectoid Reactions (II)

Contains an eutectic reaction

and an eutectoid reaction

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Peritectic Reactions
Peritectic  solid phase + liquid phase will
together form a second solid phase at a particular
temperature and composition upon cooling
L+
Reactions are slow as product phase will form at
boundary between two reacting phases separating
them

Peritectics are not as common as eutectics

and eutectiods. There is one in Fe-C system
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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams
Congruent Phase Transformations
Congruent transformation  no change in
composition
(e.g, allotropic transformation such as -Fe to g-Fe
or melting transitions in pure solids)
Incongruent transformation, at least one phase
changes composition (eutectic, eutectoid, peritectic).

Congruent Ni-Ti
melting of g

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

The Iron–Iron Carbide (Fe–Fe3C) Phase Diagram

Steels: alloys of Iron (Fe) and Carbon (C).
Fe-C phase diagram is complex. Will only consider the
steel part of the diagram, up to around 7% Carbon.

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Phases in Fe–Fe3C Phase Diagram

 -ferrite - solid solution of C in BCC Fe

• Stable form of iron at room temperature.
• The maximum solubility of C is 0.022 wt%
• Transforms to FCC g-austenite at 912 C
 g-austenite - solid solution of C in FCC Fe
• The maximum solubility of C is 2.14 wt %.
• Transforms to BCC d-ferrite at 1395 C
• Is not stable below the eutectic temperature
(727  C) unless cooled rapidly (Chapter 10)
 d-ferrite solid solution of C in BCC Fe
• The same structure as -ferrite
• Stable only at high T, above 1394 C
• Melts at 1538 C
 Fe3C (iron carbide or cementite)
• This intermetallic compound is metastable, it
remains as a compound indefinitely at room T, but
decomposes (very slowly, within several years)
into -Fe and C (graphite) at 650 - 700 C
 Fe-C liquid solution
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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Comments on Fe–Fe3C system

C is an interstitial impurity in Fe. It forms a solid

solution with , g, d phases of iron
Maximum solubility in BCC -ferrite is 0.022 wt%
at727 C. BCC:relatively small interstitial positions
Maximum solubility in FCC austenite is 2.14 wt%
at 1147 C - FCC has larger interstitial positions
Mechanical properties: Cementite (Fe3C is hard
and brittle: strengthens steels. Mechanical
properties also depend on microstructure: how
ferrite and cementite are mixed.
Magnetic properties:  -ferrite is magnetic below
768 C, austenite is non-magnetic
Classification. Three types of ferrous alloys:
Iron: < 0.008 wt % C in -ferrite at room T

Steels: 0.008 - 2.14 wt % C (usually < 1 wt % )

-ferrite + Fe3C at room T (Chapter 12)

Cast iron: 2.14 - 6.7 wt % (usually < 4.5 wt %)

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Eutectic and eutectoid reactions in Fe–Fe3C

Eutectic: 4.30 wt% C, 1147 C
L  g + Fe3C

Eutectoid: 0.76 wt%C, 727 C

g(0.76 wt% C)   (0.022 wt% C) + Fe3C

Eutectic and Eutectoid reactions are important in

heat treatment of steels
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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Microstructure in Iron - Carbon alloys

Microstructure depends on composition (carbon
content) and heat treatment.
Assume slow cooling  equilibrium maintained
Microstructure of eutectoid steel (I)

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Microstructure of eutectoid steel (II)

Pearlite, layered structure of two phases: -ferrite
and cementite (Fe3C)
Alloy of eutectoid composition (0.76 wt % C)
Layers formed for same reason as in eutectic:
Atomic diffusion of C atoms between ferrite (0.022
wt%) and cementite (6.7 wt%)
Mechanically, properties intermediate to
soft, ductile ferrite and hard, brittle cementite.
In the micrograph, the dark areas
are Fe3C layers, the light phase is
-ferrite

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Microstructure of hypoeutectoid steel (I)

Compositions to the left of eutectoid (0.022 - 0.76
wt % C) hypoeutectoid (less than eutectoid -Greek)
alloys.
g   + g   + Fe3C

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Microstructure of hypoeutectoid steel (II)

Hypoeutectoid contains proeutectoid ferrite
formed above eutectoid temperature and eutectoid
perlite that contains ferrite and cementite.

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Microstructure of hypereutectoid steel (I)

Compositions to right of eutectoid (0.76 - 2.14 wt

% C) hypereutectoid (more than eutectoid -Greek)
alloys. g  g + Fe3C   + Fe3C

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Microstructure of hypereutectoid steel (II)

Hypereutectoid contains proeutectoid cementite
(formed above eutectoid temperature) plus perlite
that contains eutectoid ferrite and cementite.

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

How to calculate the relative amounts of

proeutectoid phase ( or Fe3C) and pearlite?
Lever rule + tie line that extends from the eutectoid
composition (0.75 wt% C) to  – ( + Fe3C)
boundary (0.022 wt% C) for hypoeutectoid alloys
and to ( + Fe3C) – Fe3C boundary (6.7 wt% C) for
hipereutectoid alloys.

Fraction of  phase determined by application of

lever rule across
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of Virginia, entire ( +Science
of Materials Fe3C) phase field 18
and Engineering
 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Example: hypereutectoid alloy, composition C1

Fraction of pearlite:

WP = X / (V+X) = (6.7 – C1) / (6.7 – 0.76)

Fraction of proeutectoid cementite:

WFe3C = V / (V+X) = (C1 – 0.76) / (6.7 – 0.76)

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Summary
Make sure you understand language and concepts:

 Austenite  Microconstituent
 Cementite  Pearlite
 Component  Peritectic reaction
 Congruent transformation  Phase
 Equilibrium  Phase diagram
 Eutectic phase  Phase equilibrium
 Eutectic reaction  Primary phase
 Eutectic structure  Proeutectoid
 Eutectoid reaction cementite
 Ferrite  Proeutectoid ferrite
 Hypereutectoid alloy  Solidus line
 Hypoeutectoid alloy  Solubility limit
 Intermediate solid solution  Solvus line
 Intermetallic compound  System
 Invariant point  Terminal solid
 Isomorphous solution
 Lever rule  Tie line
 Liquidus line
 Metastable

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Reading for next class:

Chapter 10: Phase Transformations in Metals

 Kinetics of phase transformations

 Multiphase Transformations
 Phase transformations in Fe-C alloys
 Isothermal Transformation Diagrams
 Mechanical Behavior
 Tempered Martensite

Optional reading (Parts that are not covered / not tested):

10.6 Continuous Cooling Transformation Diagrams

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