(B) Hypereutectoid steel:

Consider a composition C1 to the right of the eutectoid between 0.76 and

2.14 wt. %C, this is termed as hypereutectoid steel. Cooling a steel of this
composition is represented by the vertical line zz. At point g only

-phase will

be present, the microstructure will appear as shown in fig. (4.4), only having
grains. Upon cooling into the

+Fe3C phase field, to point h, the cementite

phase will begin to form along the initial

grain boundaries. This cementite is

called proeutectoid cementite. The cementite composition remains 6.7 wt. % of C

as the temperature changes. However, the composition of the austenite of
eutectoid composition is converted into pearlite, resulting microstructure
consists of pearlite and proeutectoid cementite as microconstituents.
In the photomicrograph of a 1.4 wt. % C steel (fig.(4.5)), the light white
region along the grain boundaries is proeutectoid cementite. And the layered
region represents the pearlite. Some of the pearlite appears black because the
many closed spaced layers are unresolved at the magnification of the
photomicrograph.