Materials Science and Engineering

Fall 2019

Ninth week: Isomorphous Phase

Diagrams
Describe the phases present as a function of composition and
temperature in isomorphous binary alloys.

After analyzing the structure of materials considering first one atom, next two or three atoms, then
large groups of atoms forming crystals with a variety of defects, we now analyze the structure of larger
groups of atoms at the micrometer scale, the so-called microstructure. At this scale, real materials
usually contain several portions or constituents called phases. You must be able to identify and analyze
the phases present as a function of temperature and composition at equilibrium conditions. For this,
you will learn to interpret and use the information concentrated on unary, binary and, eventually,
ternary phase diagrams.
First, it is important to understand what a phase is, then realize that even pure materials can form
different phases. In binary systems, we can have unlimited solubility in the solid state, which gives rise
to the isomorphous phase diagrams. In general, the existence of a solubility limit gives rise to phase
separation. The phases present can “react” giving rise to transformations. One such transformation is
the eutectic reaction which we will study on eutectic phase diagrams.
These transformations can occur at constant temperature or during cooling or heating. You will be able
to describe, both qualitatively and quantitatively, what happens to the microstructure when the
material is heated or cooled during its fabrication or use. This will also prepare you to deduce how a
given material was processed or used by analyzing its structure under the microscope (the so-called
microstructure). Of paramount importance for all this is the lever rule.
You are also expected to learn about the basics of thermal analysis through the description and analysis
of cooling (or heating) curves.
As a starting point, read Chapter 10 on Askeland´s 6th ed. book (In particular, sections ….) and watch
the videos included in the Recursos section in Nexus. Then solve the crossword puzzle in the
worksheets.
Videos:

UANL-FIME
M. Hinojosa
 Materials Science and Engineering
Fall 2019

Worksheet for session 9

Name: date: , 2018

1.- Solve the following puzzle:

ACROSS
4 A portion of a system that can be mechanical separated, its properties
vary continuously with temperature.
7 A binary phase diagrams where the components exhibit total solubility
both in the liquid and the solid state.
9 _______ hardening; in an alloy, increase in strength and hardness due to
the formation of second phase particles within the matrix.
12 Phase _________, the conversion of one or more phases into another (or
others).
13 _____ rule, allows calculations of the quantities of each phase for a given
temperature and composition within two-phase zones in a phase diagram.
14 Phase diagrams for three components.

UANL-FIME
M. Hinojosa
 Materials Science and Engineering
Fall 2019

15 Line below which an alloy is completely solid.

16 Very slow cooling or heating such as there is enough time for the diffusion
process to occur.
17 Continuous phase in a microstructure.
DOWN
1 Particles that form or precipitate during cooling.
2 Solid solution __________, in an alloy, increase in strength and
hardness due to the presence of solute atoms.
3 Phase that forms as a result of chemical reaction.
5 Solid ______, a phase in the solid state formed by two or more elements
without chemical reaction.
6 Solid solution that forms when the solute atoms are of about the same
size compared to the host atoms in an alloy.
8 Line which indicates the temperature above which an alloy is completely
liquid.
10 Solid solution that forms when the size of the solute atoms is small
compared to the host atoms in an alloy.
11 Line which indicates the solubility limit as a function of temperature.

2.- Write down a brief essay in English, using your own words, about what you have
learned in the three proposed videos for this week:

UANL-FIME
M. Hinojosa
 Materials Science and Engineering
Fall 2019

3.- When studying equilibrium phase diagrams, what must we understand when using the term
‘equilibrium’ (Use your own words, please)?

4.- Draw the unary phase diagram for pure H20 at atmospheric pressure and for a temperature range of
-20 °C to 120 °C

UANL-FIME
M. Hinojosa
 Materials Science and Engineering
Fall 2019

5.- Consider the following cooling curve for a pure metal:

Sketch, for the same

metal, the cooling curves
corresponding to (a) a
higher cooling rate and
(b) a lower cooling rate.
(c) Sketch the expected
microstructure for each
case. (d) Sketch the
expected corresponding
stress vs. strain curves.

High cooling rate Low cooling rate

Cooling curve (remember to label the axes). Cooling curve

Expected microstructure Expected microstructure

Expected stress vs. strain curve Expected stress vs. strain curve

UANL-FIME
M. Hinojosa
 Materials Science and Engineering
Fall 2019

6.- Locate, in the provided Cu-Ni phase diagram, the following solid-solutions alloys:
(a) Copper alloy with 20 % Ni, (b) Cu-30% Ni (c) Nickel alloy with 10% Cu (d) 50% Cu- 50%Ni alloy.

Atomic radius Copper: Atomic radius of Nickel:

Crystal structure of copper: Crystal structure of nickel:

UANL-FIME
M. Hinojosa
 Materials Science and Engineering
Fall 2019

7.- Fill the following table

Alloy Solidus temperature Liquidus temperature
Copper alloy with 20 % Ni
Cu-30% Ni
Nickel alloy with 10% Cu
50% Cu- 50%Ni alloy.

8.- Consider a Cu- 40% Ni alloy that is maintained at 1250 C, calculate:

(a) The number of phases
(b) the quantity of solid phase

(c) the Ni content of the solid phase:

(d) the quantity of liquid phase:

(e) the Ni content of the liquid phase:

9.- Why do jewelers add small amounts of copper to gold and silver?

UANL-FIME
M. Hinojosa
 Materials Science and Engineering
Fall 2019

10.- (a) How many grams of nickel must be added to 500 grams of copper to produce an alloy that has a
liquidus temperature of 1350°C?

(b) What is the ratio of the number of nickel atoms to copper atoms in this alloy?

11.- What is brass? Explain which element strengthens the matrix for this alloy.

UANL-FIME
M. Hinojosa
 Materials Science and Engineering
Fall 2019

12.- Based on the cooling curves shown in the Figure for several Mo-V alloys, construct the Mo-V phase
diagram.

UANL-FIME
M. Hinojosa