DJJ3213

MATERIAL
SCIENCE
CHAPTER 4
SOLID SOLUTION AND EQUILIBRIUM PHASE DIAGRAM

2
Syllabus
4.1 Explain the principles of solidification
4.1.1 Explain the process of metals solidification:
a. Formation of stable nuclei in liquid metals
b. Growth of dendrite in liquid metals
c. Formation of a grain structure
4.1.2 Define term and formation of solid solution
4.1.3 Explain types of solid solution
a. Substitutional solid solution
b. Interstitial solid solution
4.2 Describe equilibrium phase diagram of Binary Isomorphous
alloy system
4.3 Interpret equilibrium phase diagram for iron-carbon up to
6.7%
4.3.1 Identify ferrite, austenite, cementite and pearlite
4.3.2 Identify iron, steel and cast iron in the iron-carbon
equilibrium phase diagram
Solidification Of Metal & Alloys
The solidification of metals and alloys is an important
industrial process since most metals are melted and then cast
into semifinished of finished shape.
When molten alloys are cast, solidification starts at the wallls
of the mold
Solidification Of Metal & Alloys
Almost all engineering crystalline materials are composed of many
crystals.
Two steps of solidification:
1. Nucleation: Formation of stable nuclei in the melt
2. Growth: Crystals grow until they meet each other
Liquid
Nuclei

Crystals that
will form Grains
grains
Grain
boundaries
Solidification Of Metal & Alloys
Stages of Solidification
Nucleation: occurs when a
small piece of solid forms in
the liquid and must attain a
minimum critical size before
it is stable
Growth: occurs as atoms from
the liquid are attached to the
tiny solid until no liquid
remains
Both conditions are met when
the free energy of the
particular phase is lower
Solidification Of Metal & Alloys

Minute nuclei form, then dendrites begin to grow,

secondary arms form and grow in the opposite
direction.
Dendritic growth and solidification:
(a) nucleation of crystals in the melt;
(b) growth of crystals into dendrites; Formation
(c) complete solidification of
dendrites
(d) final grain structure
A scanning-electron
micrograph
showing the
development of
dendrites in a
nickel-based
superalloy single-
crystal weld.
Solidification Of Metal & Alloys
Growth of Nucleus
● Initially grown dendrites are called primary
arms. The secondary and tertiary dendrite
are can also form on the primary arms to
speed up the evolution of the latent heat
● Dendrite growth continues until the
undercooled liquid warms to the freezing
temperature
● Any remaining liquid then solidifies by
planar growth.

The Three-Dimensional Morphology of Growing Dendrites

(a) and (b) are one dendrite arm
(c) shows a different arm
(d) Secondary and tertiary arm growth
Solidification Of Metal & Alloys
Secondary and tertiary arms develop from the
main backbone of the dendrite, like branches
and twigs on a tree.
Solidification Of Metal & Alloys

Dendrites grow until outer the arms touch, when metal is

completely solid, only the grain boundaries are visible.
What is differences of pure
metals & alloys?
A pure metal is found in nature. An alloy is a
combination of metals.
Alloys are better because some metals react with
air and water yet Alloys don’t react as much. This
is why car wheels are made of Alloys so that they
don’t react with air or water.
What is differences of pure
metals & alloys?
Alloys are simply a mix of two different metals.
After being mixed they have different and better
characteristics such as stainless steel. Alloys are a
special type of metal.
Example :
Alloys:-brass (copper and zinc) and bronze
(copper and tin)
Pure Metals: Pure Aluminium, Pure Gold
SOLVENT, SOLUTE & SOLUTION
Metallic Solid Solution
A solid solution is a solid-state solution of one or more
solutes in a solvent.

A uniform mixture of substances in solid form.

Solid solutions often consist of two or more types of atoms or

molecules that share a crystal lattice, as in certain metal
alloys.

Much of the steel used in construction, for example, is

actually a solid solution of iron and carbon. The carbon
atoms, which fit neatly within the iron's crystal lattice, add
strength to its structure.
Metallic Solid Solution
Most engineering metals are combined with other
metals or non-metals to provide increased strength,
higher corrosion resistance or other desired
properties  «METAL ALLOY»
Simplest type of alloy = Solid Solution:
A solid that consists of two or more elements atamically
dispersed in a single-phase structure. Two types of solid
solutions:

Substitutional alloy Interstitial alloy

(e.g., Cu in Ni) (e.g., C in Fe)
OR
Metallic Solid Solution
There are two types of solid
solution:
Interstitial
Substitional
Ordered
Disordered
Interstitial Solid Solution
The atoms of the parent or solvent metal are bigger
than the atoms of the alloying or solute metal. In
this case, the smaller atoms fit in between the
larger atoms.
Metallic Solid Solution
Substitutional Solid Solution
Atoms of the parent metal (or solvent metal) are
replaced or substituted by atoms of the alloying metal
(solute metal).
In this case, the atoms of the two metal in the alloy, are
almost similar size.
Metallic Solid Solution
 Binary Isomorphous Systems
 Two components are completely soluble in each
other in both solid and liquid phases

 This very simple case is one complete liquid and

solid solubility, an isomorphous system. The
example is the Cu-Ni alloy.

 The complete solubility occurs because both Cu

and Ni have the same crystal structure (FCC),
nearly identical atomic radii, electronegativity
and valence.

 At temperature below 1080 0C, Cu and Ni are

mutually soluble in each other in the solid state
for all compositions

 The Cu-Ni system is termed isomorphous because

of this complete liquid and solid solubility of the
two components
Equilibrium Phase Diagram
Typically, a phase diagram, displays the phases (solid,
liquid, and gas) of a substance graphically

A mixture of two metals is called binary alloy. In binary

metallic systems, the two elements are completely
soluble in each other in both liquid and solid states.
Equilibrium Phase Diagram
Equilibrium Phase Diagram

Phases- a homogeneous portion of a system that has

uniform physical and chemical characteristics.
Equilibrium phases diagram-represent the relationships
between temperature and the compositions and the
quantities of phases at equilibrium.
Composition-the relative content of a particular
element or constituent within an alloy, usually
expressed in weight percent or atom percent.
Liqiudus-is the temperature above which the substance
is stable in the liquid state which liquid starts to solidify
under equilibrium conditions
Equilibrium Phase Diagram
FERROUS METAL ALLOYS
IRON CARBON PHASE DIAGRAM
Definition
Ferrite or alpha iron (α-Fe) is a weak solid solution of
carbon in body centered cubic iron. The maximum
solubility of carbon is 0.03% at 723°C and dropped at
room temperature. Ferrite is a ductile material, soft and
have low strength.

Austenite, also known as gamma phase iron, is a solid

solution of carbon in the face-centered cube and the
solubility of iron is quite high compared to ferrite. The
maximum solubility of carbon is 1.7% at 1130°C and this is
the maximum solubility limit for plain carbon steels.
Nevertheless, solubility of carbon in excess of 1.4% is rare
in practice.
Definition

Cementite, also known as iron carbide, is a chemical

compound of iron and carbon, with the formula Fe3C (or
Fe2C:Fe). By weight, it is 6.67% carbon and 93.3% iron.
It is a hard, brittle material.
Definition
Pearlite is lamellar (or layer) structure between ferrite
and cementite which eutektoid composition is 0.83%C
and 99.17% Fe.