Eutectics,

Dispersion Strengthening,
and other
Three-Phase
Reactions

Eutectic Diagrams:
Consider a system with limited
solubility:
liquid

Pb

wt. % Sn

Sn

 Determine cooling curves for

various alloys.
Slope change
T
Isothermal hold

time

 Transfer the transition point data

and consider various alloys:
2

4
liquid
3

+
61.9%

Pb

wt. % Sn

Sn

 Alloy 1
Appears to be like isomorphous
system
liquidus and solidus with a freezing range
T

liquidus
solidus

time

Alloy 2
2

4
liquid
3

+
61.9%

Pb

wt. % Sn

Sn

 Alloy 2
Same as Alloy 1, but crosses a
solubility line (a solvus)
Results in the precipitation of a high
tin second phase on grain boundary
surfaces
ppt

liquidus
solidus
solvus
time

Alloy 3
2

4
liquid
3

+
61.9%

Pb

wt. % Sn

Sn

 Alloy 3--61.9% Tin

At 184C system is all liquid of
61.9% Tin
At 182C all solid (solid + solid )
= 19% Tin
= 97.5% Tin

A significant chemistry separation has

occurred upon solidification to
produce a 2-phase mixture
T

183C

time

The Eutectic Reaction:

The eutectic reaction is a three-phase
reaction of the form:

Liquid Solid1 + Solid2

(like H2O H2 + O2)
It occurs at a single temperature and
appears as a horizontal line on the
equilibrium phase diagram.

Lamellar Structures:
Lamellar structures consist of
alternating layers (plates) of the
two components
Each material has its own
chemistry and structure, and the
interfaces act as barriers to
dislocation movement
Many eutectics and eutectoids
have lamellar structures

Lamellar Microstructure

Alloy 4
2

4
liquid
3

+
61.9%

Pb

wt. % Sn

Sn

 Alloy 4
Cooling through left ear
At 184C + liquid
Islands of primary or proeutectic alpha in a
sea of Liquid of chemistry 61.9% Tin

At 183C Liquid 61.9% Tin +

Result --- Primary + eutectic
structure
T

time

Alloy 5
2

4
liquid
3

+
61.9%

Pb

wt. % Sn

Sn

 Alloy 5
Cooling through right ear
Primary phase is now (i.e. Tin-rich)
At 183Cliquid is again 61.9% Tin
Result is Primary + Eutectic
structure
Primary
eutectic

 Terminology
Alloy 4 is hypoeutectic (hypo = less
than)
Alloy 5 is hypereutectic (hyper =
greater)

Note: Everywhere eutectic

structure is present, it always has
the same composition and the
same properties
Note: Expect the eutectic
structure to be high strength fine 2-phase structure contains

Properties of Eutectics:
Lowest melting point coupled with
highest strength
Attractive for soldering, brazing, and casting

Each phase has solid solution

strengthening plus the additional twophase dispersion strengthening

Lead-Tin Eutectic Diagram

Additional Resources:
Online resources for Eutectic Phase Diagrams:

http://www.materials.ac.uk/elearning/matter/PhaseDiagram
s/EutecticAlloy/introduction.html

and for phase diagrams in general:

http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~pasr1/ index.htm
http://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/phase-diagrams/index.php

Review Strengthening
Mechanisms:
1). Grain size strengthening
2). Cold Work (strain hardening)
3). Solid Solution strengthening

Can now add --4). Dispersion strengthening --(strengthening from interphase

boundaries)
-- present in eutectics and
eutectoids
-- smaller spacing more interfaces
higher

--

strength

faster cooling or more rapid growth gives

smaller interlamellar spacing

Lamellar structure

Microstructure of Ti-6Al-2Mo-2Cr alloys

after cooling from 1050C at a rate of
1.2C s-1:
a) LM micrograph, b) TEM micrograph.
From: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Strength Two-Phase Titanium Alloys By J. Sieniawski, W. Ziaja, K.
Kubiak and M. Motyka in "Titanium Alloys - Advances in Properties Control",

Dispersion Strengthening:
(hand out Homework #12)

Also have dispersion strengthening

in particulate dispersions where the
particles serve as reinforcements.
Here we want:
1) Strong, hard ppt. with soft, ductile
matrix
2) Small, numerous precipitates
3) Large amounts of precipitate
4) Discontinuous precipitate
5) Rounded precipitate

Remember, we want:
1) Strong, hard ppt. with soft, ductile
matrix
2) Small, numerous precipitates
3) Large amounts of precipitate
4) Discontinuous precipitate
5) Rounded precipitate

Dispersion Strengthening:
Can obtain dispersion strengthening
by:
1). Exceeding solubility limits
2). Solidification eutectics
3). Solid phase transformations
Eutectoids, Age hardening, Etc.

4). Composite materials

Dispersion
microstructures

Dispersion
microstructures
Carbon in cast irons
top grey cast iron, brittle
bottom ductile cast iron

Other Three-Phase Reactions:

 Since separation is now occurring

entirely within the solid statewe
expect an even finer dispersion of the
product phases, and a stronger resultant
product
Example: steels

 Peritectics start fast and then slow

down
Become very sluggish
Tends to produce non-equilibrium
segregated structure

 Peritectoid:
Reaction is now all solid state so
deplete atoms from adjacent solids
and with ever increasing transport
distance.
Super sluggish!
+
Solid1 + Solid2 Solid3

 Monotectic:
Two liquids
L1 +L2
Liquid1 Solid1 + Liquid2

Intermetallic Compounds:
Combine diagrams side-by-side:

T
X

wt. % B

 X generally occurs at atomic

percentages corresponding to
whole number atom ratios.
20

A4B

25

A3B

33

A2B

40

A3B2

50
60

AB
A2B3

67

AB2

75

AB3

80

AB4

 Fixed atomic ratio is indicative of ionic

or covalent bonding hard and
brittle
Can be reinforcing agent (positive)
Can be embrittling component (negative)

 Stoichiometric intermetallic
Precise atomic ratio
Appears in diagrams as a vertical line

Non-stoichometric intermetallic
Can have some variation in atomic
ratio
Appears as a single phase in the
middle of a diagram with some width

Note: Phase diagrams tell only the

equilibrium phases and amounts
not their form or distribution

Stoichiometric
Intermetallic

Non-Stoichiometric
Intermetallic

Hypothetical Complex Phase

Diagram

Interfacial Surface Energy

Consider alloy cooling across a
solvus with a second phase
precipitating:
Start
End

or

The resulting distribution is

analogous
to rain water on a waxed car vs.

Consider a grain boundary between two alpha grains

The energy to maintain the interface we will call

If we now insert some beta phase into the boundary

The energy to maintain this interface we will call

Now, if

This minimizes the area of contact

i.e. waxed car

But, if

This means that the beta phase will

seek to replace the boundary
wherever possible
i.e. it wets the grain boundaries

 Note: If the precipitate is a brittle

intermetallic and the distribution is in
the form of a grain boundary film (a
thin film that wets the grain
boundaries), then a very small
amount of brittle intermetallic can
cause the entire material to be brittle