The iron-iron carbide (Fe-Fe3C) phase diagram

† Ferrite-α -BCC, low C

solubility(0.022%wt),
magnetic
† Austenite-γ-FCC, high
C solubility(2.14%wt),
nonmagnetic
† Ferrite-δ-BCC
† Cementite (Fe3C)
† Eutectic, peritectic,
eutectoid
† Iron, ferrite
(C<0.008wt%)
† Stainless steel,
α+Fe3C (0.008-
2.14wt%)

Microstructures of iron

α- ferrite austenite

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Interstitial sites of FCC

Interstitial sites of BCC

2
 Microstructure in iron-carbon alloys

† Eutectic--
pearlite

Hypoeutectoid alloys

† Hypoeutectoid steel: has a carbon

concentration less than the
eutectoid

3
 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 (α)
b) the amount of carbide (cementite) in grams that
forms per 100 g of steel
c) the amount of pearlite and proeutectoid ferrite (α)

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 Phase Equilibria

Solution: a) composition of Fe3C and ferrite (α)

b) the amount of carbide CO = 0.40 wt% C
(cementite) in grams that Cα = 0.022 wt% C
forms per 100 g of steel CFe C = 6.70 wt% C
3
1600
δ
Fe3C Co − Cα 1400 L
= x100 T(°C)
Fe3C + α CFe3C − Cα γ γ +L

Fe3C (cementite)
1200 1148°C L+Fe3C
(austenite)
0.4 − 0.022
= x 100 = 5.7g 1000
6.7 − 0.022 γ + Fe3C
800 727°C
R S
Fe3C = 5.7 g 600 α + Fe3C
α = 94.3 g 400
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
Cα CO Co , wt% C CFe
3C

Phase Equilibria
c. the amount of pearlite and proeutectoid ferrite (α)
note: amount of pearlite = amount of γ just above TE

Co = 0.40 wt% C
Cα = 0.022 wt% C 1600
Cpearlite = Cγ = 0.76 wt% C δ
1400 L
T(°C) γ +L
γ C − Cα γ
Fe3C (cementite)

1200 1148°C L+Fe3C

= o x 100 = 51.2 g (austenite)
γ + α Cγ − Cα 1000
γ + Fe3C
800 727°C
RS
pearlite = 51.2 g 600 α + Fe3C
proeutectoid α = 48.8 g 400
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
Cα C Cγ Co , wt% C
O

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5
 The influence of other alloying elements

• Teutectoid changes: • Ceutectoid changes:

C eutectoid (wt%C)
Ti
T Eutectoid (°C)

Si
Mo W Ni
Cr
Cr Si
Mn
Mn W
Ti Mo
Ni

wt. % of alloying elements wt. % of alloying elements

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Review Fe-C phase diagram

• 2 important T(°C)
1600
points δ
-Eutectic (A): 1400 L
L ⇒ γ + Fe3C γ γ +L
1200 1148°C
A L+Fe3C
-Eutectoid (B): (austenite)
Fe3C (cementite)

R S
γ ⇒ α +Fe3C 1000 γ γ
γ γ γ +Fe3C
α+

α
800 727°C = Teutectoid
B
γ

R S
600
α+Fe3C
400
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
(Fe) 0.76 4.30 Co, wt% C
120 μm
C eutectoid

Result: Pearlite = Fe3C (cementite-hard)

alternating layers of α (ferrite-soft)
α and Fe3C phases

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 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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