Alloy: Alloy is a mixture of two or more elements of which at least one is metal & it exhibits metallic

properties. In an alloy, the foreign elements are added intentionally to alter the mechanical, chemical &
physical properties of that metal.

Solid Solution: A complete solubility of the alloying elements in the solid state is called the solid solution.

Substitutional Solid Solution: In a solid solution, if the alloying atoms occupy the normal lattice sites
substituting the host atoms, then it is called Substitutional Solid Solution.

Interstitial Solid Solution: In a solid solution, if the alloying atoms occupy the interstitial lattice sites
instead of the normal lattice sites, then it is called Interstitial Solid Solution.

Ordered Solid Solution: If the alloying elements of the solid solution occupy certain preferred lattice sites,
then it is called Ordered Solid Solution. If the alloying elements substitute the host atoms in an orderly
arrangement, then it is called Ordered Substitutional Solid Solution.

Disordered Solid Solution: If the alloying elements of the solid solution occupy random lattice sites, then
it is called Disordered Solid Solution. And if the alloying elements substitute the host atoms in a random
arrangement, then it is called Disordered Substitutional Solid Solution.

Mixture of Pure Crystals: A complete insolubility of the alloying components in the solid state is called
the mixture of pure crystals. The alloying elements form their own crystal structures.

Mixture of Solid Solution: A partial solubility of the alloying elements in the solid state is called the
Mixture of Solid Solution. Alloying elements are always soluble in one another to a certain degree.

Phase: Phase may be defined as a chemically homogenous, physically distinct & mechanically separable
portion of a system.

Phase Diagram: Phase diagram may be defined as a graphical representation of different phases that can
coexist in equilibrium under different temperature, pressure & composition.

Solubility Limit: It is the maximum concentration for which only a single-phase solution occurs.
Degree of Freedom: Degree of freedom may be defined as the number of independent intensive variables
that need to be specified to fully determine the state of the system.

Isomorphous Alloy: Alloys that are completely soluble in each other in both liquid & solid state forming
the solid solution are called the isomorphous alloy.

Liquidus Line: The line in a phase diagram above which only liquid phase is present.

Solidus Line: The line in a phase diagram below which only solid phase is present.

Solvus Line: The line in a phase diagram that separates a solid phase from a (solid 1 + solid 2) phase.

Two Phase Region: The intermediate region between the liquidus & solidus line where two phases coexist
is called the two-phase region.

Tie Line: A tie line is an isothermal line between two phases in a two-phase region.

Congruent Melting: Congruent melting may be defined as the melting of an alloy when the composition
of the liquid phase and solid phase is same. It occurs at a constant temperature.

Incongruent Melting: Incongruent melting may be defined as the decomposition of a solid phase into two
different phases, usually one solid & one liquid phase. It is known as the peritectic reaction.

Maxima & Minima: If the liquidus & solidus line do not descend or ascend continuously, instead they
pass through a maximum or minimum temperature, then they are called Maxima or Minima.
Liquidus & Solidus meet tangentially at the maxima or minima.

Miscibility Gap: A miscibility gap is a region in a phase diagram for a mixture of components where the
mixture exist as two or more phases & the components are not completely miscible.

Nucleation: Nucleation may be defined as the formation of small particles of the new phase, known as
nuclei, which are capable of growing.
Growth: The increase in size of these nuclei is known as the growth. The growth results in the
disappearance of some of the parent phases.

Homogeneous Nucleation: The nucleation caused by own particles is called homogeneous nucleation. The
probability of a random arrangement of atoms in the form of a lattice structure is homogeneously distributed
over the entire melt. That’s why it is called “homogeneous” nucleation.

Heterogeneous Nucleation: The nucleation caused by foreign substances is called heterogeneous

Nucleation. The formation of heterogeneous nuclei occurs at places where the foreign particles are located
(Ex- on the vessel wall). So, the probability of nucleation is therefore not homogeneously distributed over
the melt. That’s why it is called “heterogeneous” nucleation.

Supercooling: The difference between the local temperature of the melt & the solidification temperature
is called the supercooling. It is also known as the undercooling.
Supercooling is the process of chilling a liquid below its freezing temperature without it becoming solid.
Supercooling is absolutely necessary to trigger the solidification process.

Solidification process is also known as the crystallization process as the formation of crystallization
structure of the metal occurs during solidification.

Eutectic Point: Eutectic point is the point in a phase diagram indicating the chemical composition & the
temperature corresponding to the lowest melting point of an alloy.

Precipitation: Precipitation, also known as segregation, may be defined as the formation of a phase from
an existing phase due to the solubility limit.

Segregation: Segregation may be defined as the concentration gradient that is found across the grain in a
non-uniform structure. Dendrite is rich in high melting element & inter-dendritic region is rich in low
melting element & thus forming a cored structure or coring.

Intermediate Phase: Intermediate phases are the single phases that occur between the terminal phases in
a phase diagram. If the intermediate phases exist over a narrow range of composition, then they are called
intermetallic compound. They are hard & brittle like ceramics.
Congruent Transformation: If one phase changes into another phase without changing the composition
at a constant temperature, then it is called congruent transformation. All pure metals solidify congruently.

Incongruent Transformation: If one phase decomposes into 2 different phases usually 1 solid & 1 liquid
phase, then this decomposition is called incongruent transformation (Also known as peritectic reaction).
Peritectic reaction also takes place in constant temperature.

Peritectic Reaction: A solid phase decomposes into new solid phase & liquid phase.
Liquid + Solid 1 Solid 2

Peritectoid Reaction:
Solid 1 + Solid 2 Solid 3

Monotectic Reaction: A liquid phase decomposes into solid phase & a new liquid phase
Liquid 1 Solid + Liquid 2

Eutectic Reaction: Liquid phase transforms into two solids.

Liquid Solid 1 + Solid 2

Eutectoid Reaction: Solid phase transforms into two new solid phases.
Solid 1 Solid 2 + Solid 3

Homogenization Heat Treatment: The alloy is rapidly cooled down which produces a fine-grained
structure with highly nonequilibrium conditions and coring. Then it is reheated at a temperature below the
solidus line of the alloying element. This process is called homogenization heat treatment.

Coring: In the non-equilibrium cooling, the produced structure is a non-uniform structure, that means the
structure has different layers of phases. The center part is called dendritic which is high melting element &
the center to grain boundary part is called inter-dendritic region which is low melting element.
This non-uniform structure formation is called coring.
In non-equilibrium cooling, almost no diffusion takes place, so it forms cored structure.
Hot Shortness: If a cored structure is reheated, grain boundary region (inter-dendritic region) melts first
because they are richer in low melting element. This is called “Hot Shortness”.

Liquation: When an alloy is heated just above the solidus temperature, the alloy begins to melt at the grain
boundary (inter-dendritic region). This is called liquation.
If the alloy is cored, the liquation may occur well below the solidus temperature.

Diffusion: Diffusion may be defined as the movement of atoms within the solution. It is the phenomenon
of material transport by atomic motion. If the diffused atoms are all of same type, then it is called self-
diffusion. If the diffused atoms are of different types, then it is called inter-diffusion.

Vacancy Diffusion: When the diffused atoms move from a normal lattice site to an adjacent vacant site,
then it is called vacancy diffusion.

Interstitial Diffusion: When the diffused atoms are interstitial atoms & move from one interstitial site to
another interstitial site, then it is called interstitial diffusion.

Diffusion Co-efficient: The rate of diffusion is simply called diffusion co-efficient, D.

Complex Phase Diagram: It is just a series of simple phase diagrams.

Solid State Transformation: Transformation that occurs in the solid state of a solid solution is called the
solid-state transformation, in short, SST.

Critical Temperature: The temperature at which solid state transformation takes place is called the critical
temperature. Can be upper critical temperature & lower critical temperature.
The range between the upper critical temperature & the lower critical temperature is called critical range.

Order-Disorder Transformation: An order-disorder transformation typically occurs on cooling from a

disordered solid solution to an ordered one. This ordered solid solution is called superlattice.

Allotropy: Depending on the temperature and the pressure, metals may exist in more than one type of
crystal structure. This is called allotropy or polymorphism.
Precipitation Hardening: Precipitation hardening also known as age hardening, is a heat treatment process
that is used to strengthen the metal (To increase the yield strength of the metal).

Ledeburite: Eutectic of austenite and cementite.

Pearlite: Eutectoid of ferrite and cementite.

TTT Curve: Time-Temperature-Transformation Curve, simply known as TTT Curve is the curve for
studying the equilibrium cooling, where a constant temperature is maintained.
That’s why it is called the Isothermal Transformation Curve or simply I-T Curve.

CCT Curve: Continuous Cooling Transformation Curve or simply CCT Curve is the curve for studying
the non-equilibrium cooling, where a constant temperature cannot be maintained rather the temperature
decreases continuously during cooling. Hence, CCT Curve shifts away from TTT Curve.