UNIT-I

CONSTITUTION OF ALLOYS AND PHASE DIAGRAMS

1.2 - Eutectoid, eutectic, peritectic, and peritectroid reactions
Phase compositions of the iron-carbon alloys at room temperature
Hypoeutectoid steels (carbon content from 0 to 0.83%) consist of

primary (proeutectoid) ferrite (according to the curve A3) and pearlite.

Eutectoid steel (carbon content 0.83%) entirely consists of pearlite.
Hypereutectoid steels (carbon content from 0.83 to 2.06%) consist of

primary (proeutectoid)cementite (according to the curve ACM) and

pearlite.
Cast irons (carbon content from 2.06% to 4.3%) consist of proeutectoid

cementite C2 ejected from austenite according to the curve ACM ,

pearlite and transformed ledeburite (ledeburite in which austenite
transformed to pearlite).

At 4.3% carbon composition, on cooling Liquid phase is converted in to two

solids hence forming Eutectic reaction.
L + Fe3C
Eutectoid: 0.76 wt%C, 727 C
(0.76 wt% C) (0.022 wt% C) + Fe3C
Shown below is the steel part of the iron carbon diagram containing up to
2% Carbon. At the eutectoid point 0.83% Carbon, Austenite which is in a

solid solution changes directly into a solid known as Pearlite which is

a layered structure consisting of layers of Ferrite and Cementite