BASIC METALLURGY

METALLIC BONDING IRON CARBON PHASE DIAGRAM TTT DIAGRAM

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Two very important phase changes take place at 0.83%C and at 4.3% C. At 0.83%C, the transformation is eutectoid, called pearlite. gamma (austenite) --> alpha + Fe3C (cementite ) At 4.3% C and 2066F, the transformation is eutectic, called ledeburite . L(liquid) --> gamma (austenite) + Fe3C (cementite )

Delta iron: The body-centered cubic phase which results when austenite is no longer the most stable form of iron. Exists between 2802 and 2552 degrees F, has BCC lattice structure and is magnetic. Austenite: Face-centered cubic iron or an iron alloy based on this structure. Bainite: The product of the final transformation of austenite decomposition. Ledeburite: Eutectic of cast iron. It exists when the carbon content is greater than 2 percent. It contains 4.3 percent carbon in combination with iron. Pearlite: A lamellar mixture of ferrite and carbide formed by decomposing austenite of eutectoid composition

TTT Diagrams Practical application of nucleation and growth kinetics is often made from Time-Temperature-Transformation (TTT) diagrams. TTT diagrams contain several curves, each representing a particular constant value fraction of total transformed volume after a particular time for a fixed annealing temperature. The diagrams are usually determined by experiment, but their common ``C''shape follows from nucleation and growth kinetics.

Among the questions that the TTT diagram can help answer are: The minimum critical cooling rate required to quench an alloy from a given temperature and suppress the appearance of the equilibrium phase. (Find the tangent to the 0% transformation curve) The anneal time or cooling schedule required to produce a particular amount of second phase.