Tutorial 7

Figure 1: Pb-Sn phase diagram.

1. Figure1 shows the phase diagram of the Pb-Sn system which shows a binary
eutectic with limited solid-solubility. Common solder alloys generally contain 40-
50wt.% Sn.
(a) What are the melting points of Pb and Sn according to the diagram?
(b) Consider a 50:50 (wt.%) alloy. For 200◦C determine:
i. The phases present
ii. The composition of these phases iii.
The relative amounts of phases (in wt.%)
(c) Repeat part (a) for 100◦C.
(d) Explain the microstructural changes that takes place in an alloy containing
10 wt.% Sn when cooled from 330◦C to 130◦C.
 (e) Explain why solders near the 60wt.% Sn composition are used for heat
sensitive electronic components requiring minimum heat application.

2. Figure 2 shows the iron-iron carbide phase diagram. For a 99.65wt.%Fe-0.35wt.%

C alloy at a temperature just below the eutectoid, determine the following:
(a) The fractions of total ferrite and cementite phases (b) The fractions of the
proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite (c) The fraction of eutectoid ferrite.

Figure 2: Iron-Iron carbide phase diagram.

Page 2
 Tutorial 7 - Solutions

Figure 1: Pb-Sn phase diagram.

1. (a) What are the melting points of Pb and Sn according to the diagram?

Solution: Melting point of Pb: 327 ◦ C and Melting point of Sn: 232 ◦ C.

(b) Consider a 50:50 (wt.%) alloy. For 200 ◦ C determine:

i. The phases present
Solution: α and Liquid

ii. The composition of these phases

Solution: α: ∼ 18wt.%Sn and Liquid: ∼ 54wt.%Sn

Page 3
 iii. The relative amounts of phases (in wt.%)

Solution:
xL − x 54 − 50
wα = × 100% = × 100% = 11. 1( wt. %)
xL − xα 54 − 18
x − xα 50 − 18
wL = × 100% = × 100% = 88. 9( wt. %)
xL − xα 54 − 18

(c) Repeat part (b) for 100 ◦ C.

i. The phases present

Solution: α and β

ii. The composition of these phases

Solution: α: ∼ 5wt.%Sn and β: ∼ 99wt.%Sn

iii. The relative amounts of phases (in wt.%)

Solution:
xβ − x 99 − 50
wα = × 100% = × 100% = 52. 1( wt. %)
xβ − xα 99 − 5

x − xα 50 − 5
wβ = × 100% = × 100% = 47. 9( wt. %)
xβ − xα 99 − 5

(d) Explain the microstructural changes that takes place in an alloy containing 10
wt.% Sn when cooled from 330 ◦ C to 130 ◦ C.
Solution:

At the start of cooling process, at 330 ◦ C, the alloy is a liquid.

When crossing the liquidus ∼ 330 ◦ C, liquid phase will transform to α (L

→ L + α).
Between 330 ◦ C and ∼ 275 ◦ C (solidus), fraction of α increases and liquid
fraction decreases.

Below 275 ◦ C the alloy is solid.

Between 275 ◦ C and ∼ 150 ◦ C the microstructure has only the α phase.

Page 4
 Below ∼ 150 ◦ C, some of the α will transform to the β phase.

(e) Explain why solders near the 60wt.% Sn composition are used for heat sensitive
electronic components requiring minimum heat application.

Solution: The Pb-Sn system has a eutectic at 61.9wt.%Sn-38.1wt.%Pb

composition which gives the lowest melting point (183 ◦ C) of the system.
Hence, the solder compositions around 60wt.% Sn are easy to melt. The
sensitive electronic components should be exposed as low temeratures as
possible to prevent thermal damage. Therefore solder compositions near
60wt.% Sn are used to take advantage of the eutectic.

2. Figure 2 shows the iron-iron carbide phase diagram. For a 99.65wt.%Fe-0.35wt.% C

alloy at a temperature just below the eutectoid, determine the following:
(a) The fractions of total ferrite and cementite phases

Solution: The eutectoid line extends from 0.022wt.%–6.7wt.% C. Just below

the eutectic, 0.35 wt.%C steel has mixture of α -ferrite of 0.022wt.%C compo
sition and Fe3C cementite of 6.7 wt.%C (fixed) composition. By applying the
lever rule it is possible to calculate the weight fraction of α and Fe3C as follows:
6. 7 − 0. 35
wα = = 0. 95
6. 7 − 0. 022
0, 35 − 0. 022
wFe 3 C = = 0. 05
6. 7 − 0. 022

(b) The fractions of the proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite

Page 5
 Figure 2: Iron-Iron carbide phase diagram.

Solution: The 0.35wt.%C containing steel actually contains pro-eutectoid fer

rite (α 0) and pearlite, a mixture of ferrite and cementite (P ). To calculate the
amount of pearlite, the tie-line is extended from 0.022wt.%C to only up to the
eutectoid composition (0.76 wt.%C ) correspondingto 100% pearlite.

0. 35 − 0. 022
wP = = 0. 44
0. 76 − 0. 022

0. 76 − 0. 35
wα 0 = = 0. 56
0. 76 − 0. 022

(c) The fraction of eutectoid ferrite.

Solution: Ferrite exists as pro-eutectoid ferrite (α0) or as eutectoid ferrite (αe) in pearlite.
Total amount of ferrite (wα) therefore should be the some of above.

wα = wα0 + wαe

Page 6
wαe = wα − wα0 = 0.95 − 0.56 = 0.39

Page 7