Engineering

Materials

LECTURE (3)
3- FERROUS METALS
&
HEAT TREATMENT
Iron–Carbon Phase Diagram

Eutectic

Eutectoid
 Eutectoid
(0 76 wt%
(0.76 % C)
Pearlite = (α+ Fe3C) Eutectoid
 Eutectoid Transformation Rate

• Growth of pearlite from austenite:

Diffusive flow
of C needed
Austenite () cementite (Fe3C)
grain  ferrite () 
boundary 

  

 pearlite 

 growth
direction 

100 0
earlite)

% austenite
600°C
• Reaction rate (T larger)
650°C
650 C
50 50
y (% pe

increases with 675°C

(T smaller)
ΔT. 0 100
1 10 102 103
time (s)
4
Hypoeutectoid Alloys
(less than eutectoid)
(0.022 -0.76 wt% C

0.38 wt% C
Slow Cooling

Time in region
indicates amount of
microconstituent!
Hypereutectoid Alloys
(More than eutectoid)
0.76 and 2.14 wt% C,

1 4 wt% C
1.4
Steel and Cast Iron
Cast Iron
 History of Cast Irons
• In the later 20th century the major use of cast irons consisted
of pipes, thermal containment units, and certain machine or
building entities which were necessary to absorb continuous
vibrations.
 Classifications of Cast Iron
• White Iron: large amount of carbide
pphases in the form of flakes, surrounded
by a matrix of either Pearlite or
Martensite. The result of metastable
solidification. Has a white crystalline
fracture surface because fracture occurs
along the iron carbide plates.
Considerable strength
strength, insignificant
Microstructure of White Cast Iron
ductility.

• Gray Iron: Graphite flakes surrounded by

a matrix of either Pearlite or Ferrite.
Exhibits g grayy fracture surface due to
fracture occurring along Graphite plates.
The product of a stable solidification.
Considerable strength
strength, insignificant Microstructure of Gray Cast Iron
ductility.
 Classifications of Cast Iron
• Ductile (Nodular) Iron: Graphite
nodules.
d l Exhibits
hibi substantial
b i l
ductility in its as cast form.

• M
Malleable
ll bl Iron:
I castt as White
Whit Iron,
I Microstructure of Ductile Iron
then malleabilized, or heat treated,
to impart ductility.
ductility

Microstructure of Malleable Iron

 Steel
An alloy of iron containing from 0.02% and 2.1% carbon by
weight

• It is the carbon content that turns iron into steel

• Often includes other alloying elements: manganese,

chromium nickel,
chromium, nickel and molybdenum

• Steel alloys can be grouped into four categories:

1. Plain carbon steels

2. Low alloy steels

3 Stainless steels
3.

4. Tool steels
 Plain Carbon Steels

• Carbon is the pprincipal

p alloying
y g element,, with onlyy
small amounts of other elements (about 0.5%
manganese is normal).

• Strengthh off plain

l i carbon
b steels
l increases
i with
i h carbon
b
content, but ductility is reduced.

• High carbon steels can be heat treated to form

martensite, making the steel very hard and strong.
 Plain Carbon Steels

T il strengthh andd hardness

Tensile h d as a function
f i off carbon
b content in
i
plain carbon steel (hot rolled)
Carbon and alloy steels
Carbon steels
• Classified as low, medium and high:
1 Low-carbon
1. Low carbon steel
steel, < 0.15%C,
0 15%C sheet plates
plates.
2. Mild steel , 0.15 to 0.30% C, girders, Plates, nuts
andd bolts,
b l generall purpose.
3. Medium-carbon steel, 0.3% ~ 0.6%C, machinery,
automotive (components and engine parts such as
crankshafts and connecting rods) and agricultural
equipment.
g
4. High-carbon steel,, > 0.60% C,, springs,
p g , cuttingg
tools and blades, wear-resistant parts.
 Low Alloy Steels
Iron-carbon alloys that contain additional alloying elements in
amounts totaling less than  5% by weight.

• Mechanical properties superior to plain carbon steels for given

applications.

• Higher strength, hardness, hot hardness, wear resistance,

toughness and more desirable combinations of these
toughness,
properties.

• Heat treatment is often required to achieve these improved

properties .
 Stainless Steel (SS)
Highly alloyed steels designed for corrosion resistance.

• Principal alloying element is chromium, usually greater than

15%.

– Cr forms a thin impervious oxide film that protects surface

from corrosion.

• Nickel (Ni) is another alloying ingredient in certain SS to

increase corrosion protection.

• Carbon is used to strengthen and harden SS, but high C

content reduces corrosion protection since chromium carbide
forms to reduce available free Cr .
 Influence of Alloying Elements
Chromium - Cr
 Main alloying element in Stainless Steel
 >12% for self healing passive oxide film
 Improves pitting resistance
Nickel - Ni
 Great effect on
mechanical
mechanical properties - toughness
 Improves resistance to
general corrosion
stress corrosion cracking
 Beneficial
B fi i l for
f strength
t th att high
hi h temperatures
t t
 Influence of Alloying Elements
Molybdenum - Mo
 Greatly improves the resistance to general
corrosion in most media.
Greatly improves resistance to pitting.
B fi i l for
Beneficial f strength
t th att elevated
l t d temperatures.
t t
Silicon - Si -
Positive effect on resistance to high temperature
corrosion
Increases risk of hot cracking during welding
 Influence of Alloying
y g Elements
Sulphur – S
 Usually below 0.03%
 Increases risk of hot cracking during welding
 Improves machinability
T
Tungsten -W
 Contributes significantly to hardenability and high
temperature creep strength.