IRON - CARBON DIAGRAM

IRON IRON CARBIDE PHASE DIAGRAM

Iron iron carbide phase diagram

FEATURES OF IRON-IRON CARBIDE DIAGRAM

Phases Present :
L Liquid phase a ferrite Bcc structure Ferromagnetic Fairly ductile d Bcc structure Paramagnetic g austenite Fcc structure Non-magnetic ductile

Fe3C cementite Orthorhombic Hard brittle

Max. solubility of C in ferrite=0.022% Max. solubility of C in austenite=2.11%

REACTIONS :
Peritectic : L + d = g Eutectic : L = g + Fe3C

Different Phases existing in the diagram :

Eutectoid : g = a + Fe3C

1. Ferrite ( a )

2. Austenite(g)

Different transformations :
1. Peritectic transformation 2. Eutectoid transformation 3. Eutectic transformation

3. d - ferrite(d)

1. Ferrite ( a ) :
-Ferrite is an interstitial solid solution of carbon in low temperature B.C.C . a - iron - It is almost a pure iron -Solubility of Carbon in a - iron at room temp is 0.008% and increases with increase in temperature up to 0.025% at 727C - Soft and ductile ( hardness = 80 BHN ) -Can be cold worked without cracking -Ferromagnetic upto 786C and paramagnetic at 768C during heating - This temperature (768C) ferrite becomes paramagnetic called CURIE TEMPERATUIRE

2. AUSTENITE ( g ) :
- Austenite is an interstitial solid solution of carbon in F.C.C. g iron - It can dissolve upto 0.2% carbon at 1147C . - Stable only above 727C . - It is soft,ductile,malleable.paramagnetic phase. - Extensively worket at the temperature of its existence.

3. d(d- Ferrite) :
- It is an intyerstitial solid solution of carbon in hidh temperature B.C.C. d -iron . - It is similar to a - ferrite except its occurrence at high temperature

4. Fe3C ( cementite) :
- It is an intermetallic compound of iron and fixed carbon content of 6.67% by weight. - Orthorhombic crystal structure with 12 carbon atoms and 4 iron atoms. - Extremely hard and brittle ( hardness = 900 VPN) - Ferromagnetic upto 210C and paramagnetic above this temperature - It is called iron carbide or carbide

1. Peritectic transformation :
Amount of d = 82.2% For hypoperitectic steels L+d
1492C

Amount of L = 17.8% For Hyperperitectic steels L+d g + L

d+g

Peritectic region of Fe-C phase diagram

2. EUTECTOID TRANSFORMATION :
Amount of ferrite = 88.1% Amount of cementite = 11.9%

- Austenite of 0.8% C decomposes at constant temperature of 727C and forms a mixture of ferrite and cementite. -This mixture of ferrite and cementite Is called PEARLITE -The properties of pearlite depends upon its interlamellar spacing again it depends upon cooling rate . -Hardness of peralite with usual cooling rate is between 230 and 270BHN - Interlamellar spacing means the distance between tow adjacent ferrite lamella. 3. EUTECTIC TRANSFORMATION : L
Const temp

S 1 + S2

s1 and s2 are two different solids , L is liquid

L
(of 4.3% C)

g
(of 2.0% C)

Fe3C
(of 6.67% C)

Liquid of 4.3% carbon transforms at constant temperature of 1147C and gives an eutectic mixture of austenite(of 2.0% C) and cementite. This eutectic mixture is called LEDEBURITE
Amount of pearlite = 40.4% Amount of Cementite = 59.6% Cementite is hard and pearlite is also fairly hard so Ledeburite is also hard and subsequentli brittle.

 A1 The so-called eutectoid temperature, which is the minimum temperature for austenite.

A3 The lower-temperature boundary of the austenite region at low carbon contents; i.e., the gamma / gamma + ferrite boundary.
Acm The counterpart boundary for high-carbon contents; i.e., the gamma / gamma + Fe3C boundary. Sometimes the letters c, e, or r are included: Accm In hypereutectoid steel, the temperature at which the solution of cementite in austenite is completed during heating.

Ac1 The temperature at which austenite begins to form during heating, with the c being derived from the French chauffant.

 Ac3 The temperature at which transformation of ferrite to austenite is completed during heating. Aecm, Ae1, Ae3 The temperatures of phase changes at equilibrium. Arcm In hypereutectoid steel, the temperature at which precipitation of cementite starts during cooling, with the r being derived from the French refroidissant.

Ar1 The temperature at which transformation of austenite to ferrite or to ferrite plus cementite is completed during cooling.
Ar3 The temperature at which austenite begins to transform to ferrite during cooling. Ar4 The temperature at which delta-ferrite transforms to austenite during cooling.

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