Phase Diagrams

Phase Diagrams
 A phase diagram is a graphical way to
summarize the conditions under which the
different states of a substance are stable.

• The curves separating each area

represent the boundaries of phase
changes.
 Cooling Curve for a Pure Metal
 A pure metal solidifies at a constant temperature
equal to its freezing point (same as melting point)

Figure: An ideal cooling curve for a pure metal.

 Concepts…...

 Phase transformation
 Change from one phase to another
 E.g. L S, S S etc.
 Occurs because energy change is
negative/goes from high to low energy state
 Phase boundary
 Boundary between phases in a phase diagram
Solidification(cooling) curves
Pure metal Alloy

L L Soldification
begins
TL
L S L+S
Tm
TS
Solidification S
S
complete
Microstructural changes during solidification
Pure metal
L
T
L
S

L S
Tm

t
Microstructural changes during solidification
Alloy
L
T

TL
L+S
TS
S
S

t
 L
Results
T L S
L
L TL
L TL TNi
L+S
L S L+S
Pure Ni
TS S
TCu S TS S
Pure Cu Cu-20%Ni
Cu-10%Ni

t
Binary isomorphous phase diagram
T L
L T1
L
T2
T3 L+S

T4 L

S
S
CL C0 CS
0 100
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
A %B B
Composition
Binary isomorphous phase diagram
Temp L
x x x x x x TNi
x
x
x L+S x
x x
x x
TCu x x x x x x
Cu

S Ni

0 100
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Cu %Ni Ni
Composition
Complete solubility
Notes
 This is an equilibrium phase diagram (slow
cooling)
 The phase boundary which separates the L
from the L+S region is called LIQUIDUS
 The phase boundary which separates the S
from the L+S region is called SOLIDUS
 The horizontal (isothermal) line drawn at a
specific temperature is called the TIE LINE
 The tie line can be meaningfully drawn only in
a two-phase region
 The average composition of the alloy is CO
 The following phases are involved in the
transformation, occurring with iron-carbon
alloys.
 Liquid
 δ-ferrite
 Austenite
 α-ferrite
 Cementite
 Pearlite.
Iron-carbon phase diagram
 Describes the iron-carbon system of alloys
containing up to 6.67% of carbon,
 Discloses the Phases compositions
 Transformations occurring with the alloys
during their cooling or heating.
 Carbon content 6.67% corresponds to the
fixed composition of the iron carbide Fe3C.
Phase compositions of the iron-
carbon alloys at room
temperature
 Hypoeutectoid steels (carbon content from 0 to 0.8%)
consist of primary (proeutectoid) ferrite and pearlite.
 Eutectoid steel (carbon content 0.8%) entirely consists of
pearlite.
 Hypereutectoid steels (carbon content from 0.8 to 2.%)
consist of primary (proeutectoid)cementite and pearlite.
 Cast irons (carbon content from 2.0% to 4.3%) consist of
proeutectoid cementite , pearlite and transformed ledeburite
(ledeburite in which austenite transformed to pearlite).
Critical temperatures In Iron-
Carbon Diagram
 Upper critical temperature (point) A3 is the temperature,
below which ferrite starts to form as a result of ejection from
austenite in the hypoeutectoid alloys.
 Upper critical temperature (point) ACM is the temperature,
below which cementite starts to form as a result of ejection
from austenite in the hypereutectoid alloys.
 Lower critical temperature (point) A1 is the temperature of
the austenite-to-pearlite eutectoid transformation. Below this
temperature austenite does not exist.
 Magnetic transformation temperature A2 is the temperature
below which α-ferrite is
Common Equilibrium Reactions
Eutectic Reaction :
liquid solid-A + solid-B
Eutectiod reaction :
solid-1 solid-A + solid-B
Preitectic reaction :
solid-1+liquid solid-2
Peritectoid reaction :
solid-1 + solid-2 solid-3