Chapter 04:

Equilibrium Phase Diagrams

and the Iron-Carbon System
DeGarmo’s Materials and Processes in
Manufacturing
4.1 Introduction and 4.2 Phases

 Phase has a definable structure and

composition
 Distinct boundaries and interfaces that separate it
from other phases
 A phase can be continuous or discontinuous
 A phase can be a pure substance or a
solution
5.3 Phase Equilibrium Phase Diagrams

 An equilibrium phase diagram is a diagram

that shows the natural tendencies of a
material or material system
 Pressure, temperature, and composition are
important
 Transitions are encountered when a material
changes phase
 Sublimation occurs when a material goes
from a solid to a gas
 Freeze drying operates on this principle
Equilibrium Phase Diagrams

Figures 4-1 Pressure-temperature Figure 4-2 Mapping axes for a temperature-

equilibrium phase diagram for water. composition equilibrium phase diagram.
Cooling Curves

Figure 4-3 Cooling

curves for five
different solutions of
salt and water: a)
0% NaCl; b) 10%
NaCl; c) 23.5%
NaCl; d) 50% NaCl;
e) 100% NaCl.
Cooling Curves

 Figure 4-4 shows the transition points of a

temperature time curve for a solution of NaCl in
water
 Line a-c-f-h-l shows the lowest temperature at which
the solution is totally liquid, known as a liquidus line

Figure 4-4 Partial equilibrium

diagram for NaCl and H2O
derived from cooling-curve
information.
Solubility

 A solvus line on an equilibrium phase diagram

shows a limit to the materials solubility
 If the two materials are completely soluble in one
another, then the diagram is simple
 The lowest temperature at which the material is
100% liquid is the liquidus line
 The highest temperature at which the material is
100% solid is the solidus line
 Between the two lines is a region where the liquid
and solid solutions both exist
Partial Solid Solubility and Insolubility

 The saturation point is the solubility limit of

the two materials at a given temperature
 If the temperature is decreased, the amount
of solute that can be held in solution
decreases
 Two materials are insoluble if they can not be
held in solution
Solubility Diagrams

Figure 4-6 (Below) Copper-nickel

equilibrium phase diagram, showing
complete solubility in both liquid and solid
states.

Figure 4-7 (Above) Equilibrium diagram

of two materials that are completely
insoluble in each other in both the liquid
and solid states.
Utilization of Diagrams
Figure 4-8 Equilibrium diagram showing
the changes that occur during the cooling
of an alloy X.
 Phase diagrams contain the
following information
 The phases that are present
at a given temperature and
composition
 Composition of each phase
 Amount of each phase
present
 Using the lever law, the
amount of each phase in a Fraction of the material that is liquid
two-phase region can be
a  S2
calculated
100%  L.F .
L2  S 2
Solidification of Alloy X

 As temperature drops, more solid forms

 The chemistries of both the liquid and the
solid phases follow the tie line endpoints
 The chemistry of the liquid follows the liquidis
line and the solid follows the solidus line
 When the temperature is decreased at
constant composition the material becomes
solid phase when it crosses the solidus line
Three-phase reactions

Figure 4-9 Schematic summary of three-phase reactions and intermetallic compounds.

Intermetallic Compounds

 If two components in a compound can only

exist at one atomic ratio, the compound is
known as a stoichiometric intermetallic
compound
 Appears as a single vertical line in the
equilibrium phase diagram
 If some degree of variability is tolerable, then
the vertical line will extend into a single phase
region
4.4 Iron-Carbon Equilibrium Diagram

 Four single phase

solids within the
diagram
 Delta-ferrite, austenite,
ferrite, cementite
 Steels are the iron
alloys with less than
2.11% carbon
Figure 4-10 The iron-carbon equilibrium
phase diagram. Single phases are α, ferrite;
γ, austenite; δ, δ-ferrite; Fe3C, cementite.
4.4 Iron-Carbon Equilibrium Diagram

 Four single phase

solids within the
diagram
 Delta-ferrite, austenite,
ferrite, cementite
 Steels are the iron
alloys with less than
2.11% carbon
Figure 4-10 The iron-carbon equilibrium
phase diagram. Single phases are α, ferrite;
γ, austenite; δ, δ-ferrite; Fe3C, cementite.
4.5 Steels and the Simplified Iron-Carbon
Diagram
 Steels having less than the eutectoid amount
of carbon are hypoeutectoid steels
 Steels having more than the eutectoid
amount of carbon are called hypereutectoid
steels
 Transitions occur both in slow heating and
cooling
Steels and the Iron-Carbon Diagram

Figure 4-11
Simplified
iron-carbon
phase
diagram with
labeled
regions.
4.6 Cast Irons

 Iron-carbon alloys with more than 2.11%

carbon are known as cast irons
 Relatively inexpensive with good fluidity and
low liquidis temperatures make them ideal for
casting
 Contain significant amounts of silicon,
manganese, and sulfur
 High silicon content enhances oxidation and
corrosion resistance of cast irons
Summary

 Phase diagrams can be used to predict how

materials will behave during different heat
treating processes
 Diagrams are used extensively in casting
processes to predict needed cooling rates
 Cast irons are specifically used for casting
 Properties of cast irons differ from those of
other iron compounds