Fe-Fe3C Phase Diagram

Figure 1 shows the equilibrium diagram for combinations of carbon in a solid solution of iron. The diagram shows iron and carbons combined to form Fe-Fe3C at the 6.67%C end of the diagram. The left side of the diagram is pure iron combined with carbon, resulting in steel alloys. Three significant regions can be made relative to the steel portion of the diagram. They are the eutectoid E, the hypoeutectoid A, and the hypereutectoid B. The right side of the pure iron line is carbon in combination with various forms of iron called alpha iron (ferrite), gamma iron (austenite), and delta iron. The black dots mark clickable sections of the diagram. Allotropic changes take place when there is a change in crystal lattice structure. From 2802-2552F the delta iron has a body-centered cubic lattice structure. At 2552F, the lattice changes from a body-centered cubic to a face-centered cubic lattice type. At 1400F, the curve shows a plateau but this does not signify an allotropic change. It is called the Curie temperature, where the metal changes its magnetic properties.

Two very important phase changes take place at 0.83%C and at 4.3% C. At 0.83%C, the transformation is eutectoid, called pearlite. gamma (austenite) --> alpha + Fe3C (cementite) At 4.3% C and 2066F, the transformation is eutectic, called ledeburite. L(liquid) --> gamma (austenite) + Fe3C (cementite) Equilibrium Calculations 1. Given the Fe-Fe3C phase diagram, Fig. 1, calculate the phases present at the eutectoid composition line at: a. T = 3000F b. T = 2200F c. T = 1333F d. T = 410F 2. Calculate the phases in the cast-iron portion of the diagram at the eutectic composition of 4.3% C in combination with 95.7% ferrite at: a. T = 3000F b. T = 1670F c. T = 1333F 3. A eutectoid steel (about 0.8%C) is heated to 800C (1472F) and cooled slowly through the eutectoid temperature. Calculate the number of grams of carbide that form per 100g of steel. 4. Determine the amount of pearlite in a 99.5% Fe-0.5%C alloy that is cooled slowly from 870C given a basis of 100g of alloy.

Solutions 1. a. T = 3000F. Since the composition E is eutectoid, the carbon content is 0.83%. b. T = 2200F. At this temperature, austenite exists as a single-phase solid. c. T = 1333F. Two phases exist, ferrite and austenite. The percentages are determined by the lever rule: X (X+Y) = (Cy-C) (Cy-Cx). proeutectoid ferrite = (0.83 - 0.18) / (0.83 - 0.025) x 100 = 80.7% austenite = (0.18 - 0.025) / (0.83 - 0.025) x 100 = 19.3%

d. T = 410F. A small amount of cementite will precipitate following the solubility line from 0.025% C at 1333F to 0.008% C at room temperature. The overall percentages of ferrite and cementite are: ferrite = (6.67 - 0.18) / (6.67 - 0.01) x 100 = 97.4 cementite = (0.18 - 0.01) / (6.67 - 0.01) x 100 = 2.6% 2. a. T = 3000F. At this temperature, the eutectic is all liquid. b. T = 1670F. Since there is a change of the solubility line, there will be a change in the austenite composition, that will transform to the eutectoid at 1333F. The overall austenite and cementite composition will be: austenite = (6.67 - 4.3) / (6.67 - 1.2) x 100 = 43.3% cementite = (4.3 - 1.2) / (6.67 - 1.2) x 100 = 56.7% c. T = 1333F. At this temperature the austenite has a eutectoid composition and will transform into pearlite. The compositions of proeutectoid cementite and austenite are: eutectoid austenite = (6.67 - 4.3) / (6.67 - 0.83) x 100 = 40.6% proeutectoid cementite = (4.3 - 0.83) / (6.67 - 0.83) x 100 = 59.4% The austenite has a eutectoid composition that is: eutectoid ferrite = (6.67 - 0.83) / (6.67 - 0.025) x 100 = 88% eutectoid cementite = (0.83 - 0.025) / (6.67 - 0.025) x 100 = 12% 3. Interpolate between alpha (0.02%C) and Fe3C (6.7%) at 1333F Carbide = (0.8 - 0.02) / (6.7 - 0.02) x 100 = 12g 4. Since pearlite originates from austenite of eutectoid composition, determine the amount of gamma just prior to the eutectoid reaction. From 870C - 780C : 100g austenite with 0.5% C From 780C - 727C : ferrite separates from austenite and the carbon content of the austenite increases to about 0.8% C At 727C (+) : proeutectoid ferrite: composition of ferrite = 0.02% C, amount of carbon = 38g Gamma that transforms to pearlite: compostion of austenite = 0.8% C. Amount of austenite = 62g. At 727C (-): Amount of pearlite = 62g Eutectic: A eutectic system occurs when a liquid phase tramsforms directly to a twophase solid. Eutectoid: A eutectoid system occurs when a single-phase solid transforms directly to a two-phase solid. Hypereutectoid: Hypereutectoid systems exist below the eutectoid temperature. Hypoeutectoid: Hypoeutectoid systems exist above the eutectoid temperature

Ledeburite: Eutectic of cast iron. It exists when the carbon content is greater than 2 percent. It contains 4.3 percent carbon in combination with iron. Cementite: The second phase formed when carbon is in excess of the solubility limit. Pearlite: A lamellar mixture of ferrite and carbide formed by decomposing austenite of eutectoid composition. Martensite: An unstable polymorphic phase of iron which forms at temperatures below the eutectoid because the face-centered cubic structure of austenite becomes unstable. It changes spontaneously to a body-centered structure by shearing action, not diffusion. Austenite: Face-centered cubic iron or an iron alloy based on this structure.

Examples of Iron-Iron Carbide Phase Transformations on the T-T-T Diagram

Figure 1. Fe-Fe3C T-T-T Diagram, The time-temperature transformation curves correspond to the start and finish of transformations which extend into the range of temperatures where austenite transforms to pearlite. Above 550 C, austenite transforms completely to pearlite. Below 550 C, both pearlite and bainite are formed and below 450 C, only bainite is formed. The horizontal line C-D that runs between the two curves marks the beginning and end of isothermal transformations. The dashed line that runs parallel to the solid line curves represents the time to transform half the austenite to pearlite. Below we have listed some simple examples as an exercise at other temperatures that result in different phase transformations and hence different microstructures.

Fig 2. Time-Temperature Paths on Isothermal Transformation Diagram 1. Given Fig. 2, describe what transformations happen in: a. Path 1 (Red line) b. Path 2 (Green line) c. Path 3 (Blue line) d. Path 4 (Orange line) Solution a. (Red) The specimen is cooled rapidly to 433 K and left for 20 minutes. The cooling rate is too rapid for pearlite to form at higher temperatures; therefore, the steel remains in the austenitic phase until the Ms temperature is passed, where martensite begins to form. Since 433 K is the temperature at which half of the austenite transforms to martensite, the direct quench converts 50% of the structure to martensite. Holding at 433 K forms only a small quantity of additional martensite, so the structure can be assumed to be half martensite and half retained austenite.

b. (Green) The specimen is held at 523 K for 100 seconds, which is not long enough to form bainite. Therefore, the second quench from 523 K to room temperature develops a martensitic structure. c. (Blue) An isothermal hold at 573 K for 500 seconds produces a half-bainite and half-austenite structure. Cooling quickly would result in a final structure of martensite and bainite. d. (Orange) Austenite converts completely to fine pearlite after eight seconds at 873 K. This phase is stable and will not be changed on holding for 100,000 seconds at 873 K. The final structure, when cooled, is fine pearlite.