The iron-iron carbide (Fe-Fe3C) phase diagram
Ferrite- -BCC, low C solubility(0.022%wt), magnetic Austenite--FCC, high C solubility(2.14%wt), nonmagnetic Ferrite--BCC Cementite (Fe3C) Eutectic, peritectic, eutectoid Iron, ferrite (C<0.008wt%) Stainless steel, +Fe3C (0.0082.14wt%)
Microstructures of iron
- ferrite
austenite
Interstitial sites of FCC
Interstitial sites of BCC
Microstructure in iron-carbon alloys
Eutectic-pearlite
Hypoeutectoid alloys
Hypoeutectoid steel: has a carbon concentration less than the eutectoid
Hypereutectoid alloys
Hypereutectoid steel: has a carbon content greater than the eutectoid
Example: Phase Equilibria
For a 99.6 wt% Fe-0.40 wt% C at a temperature just below the eutectoid, determine the following a) composition of Fe3C and ferrite () b) the amount of carbide (cementite) in grams that forms per 100 g of steel c) the amount of pearlite and proeutectoid ferrite ()
Phase Equilibria
Solution: a) composition of Fe3C and ferrite ()
CO = 0.40 wt% C C = 0.022 wt% C CFe C = 6.70 wt% C
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b) the amount of carbide (cementite) in grams that forms per 100 g of steel
Co C Fe3C 1400 = x100 T(C) Fe3C + CFe3C C
1600
L
L+Fe3C
0.4 0.022 x 100 = 5.7g = 6.7 0.022 Fe3C = 5.7 g = 94.3 g
1000 800
727C
+ Fe3C
R S
600 400 0 1 2 3
+ Fe3C
4 5 6
C CO
Co , wt% C
CFe
6.7
3C
Phase Equilibria
c. the amount of pearlite and proeutectoid ferrite () note: amount of pearlite = amount of just above TE
Co = 0.40 wt% C C = 0.022 wt% C Cpearlite = C = 0.76 wt% C
1600
1200 1000 800
L+Fe3C
+ Fe3C RS
727C
pearlite = 51.2 g proeutectoid = 48.8 g
600 400 0 1 C C C O 2 3
+ Fe3C
4 5 6
6.7
Co , wt% C
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Fe3C (cementite)
C C = o x 100 = 51.2 g + C C
T(C)
1400
L +L 1148C (austenite)
Fe3C (cementite)
+L 1200 1148C (austenite)
The influence of other alloying elements
Teutectoid changes:
T Eutectoid (C)
Ti Mo Si W Cr Mn Ni
Ceutectoid changes:
C eutectoid (wt%C)
Ni Cr Si Ti Mo W Mn
wt. % of alloying elements
wt. % of alloying elements
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Review Fe-C phase diagram
2 important points -Eutectic (A):
L + Fe3C T(C)
1600
1400 1200 1000 800 600
L Fe3C (cementite) +L (austenite)
1148C
A
+Fe3C
-Eutectoid (B):
+Fe3C
L+Fe3C
Result: Pearlite = alternating layers of and Fe3C phases
C eutectoid
120 m
400 0 (Fe)
B
S
727C = Teutectoid
+Fe3C
4 5 6
0.76
4.30 Co, wt% C Fe3C (cementite-hard) (ferrite-soft)
6.7
Summary
Phase diagrams are useful tools to determine:
--the number and types of phases, --the wt% of each phase, --and the composition of each phase
for a given T and composition of the system. Alloying to produce a solid solution usually
--increases the tensile strength (TS) --decreases the ductility.
Binary eutectics and binary eutectoids allow for a range of microstructures.
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