Chapter 2

Phase Diagrams

Lecture 4
Components and Phases
• Components:
The elements or compounds that are mixed initially (Al and Cu).
• Phases:
A phase is a separate and identifiable state of material with a given chemical composition
and structure (a and b).
Representation of phases present under a set of conditions (P, T, Composition etc.)
 Phase Equilibria: Solubility Limit

• Solution: solid, liquid, or gas solutions, single phase.

• Mixture: more than one phase.

• Solubility Limit: Maximum concentration for which only a single phase solution
exists.

• At some specific temperature, there is a maximum concentration of solute atoms

that may dissolve in the solvent to form a solid solution, which is called as
Solubility Limit

• The addition of solute in excess of this solubility limit results in the formation of
another compound that has a clearly different composition
 Solubility Limit

• For example, the sugar–water syrup

solution is one phase, and solid sugar
is another phase.
Question: What is the solubility limit for
sugar in water at 20°C?
Answer: 63 wt% sugar.
At 20°C, if C < 63 wt% sugar: syrup
At 20°C, if C > 63 wt% sugar: syrup + sugar
Microstructure

• the structure of a prepared surface of material as

revealed by a microscope above 25X
magnification

• The microstructure of a material can strongly

influence many properties such as strength,
toughness, ductility, hardness, corrosion
resistance, high/low temperature behavior and
wear resistance.
Phase Diagram

• Three externally controllable parameters that will affect phase structure:

temperature, pressure, and composition.

• A phase diagram in which temperature and composition are variable parameters,

and pressure is held constant-normally 1atm, this called Binary phase diagram.

• Binary phase diagrams are maps that represent the relationships between
temperature and the compositions and quantities of phases at equilibrium, which
influence the microstructure of an alloy.
 Phase Diagram
For this course:
-binary systems: just 2 components.
-independent variables: T and Co (P = 1 atm is almost always used).
T(°C)
1600 • 2 phases:
L (liquid)
1500 L (liquid) a (FCC solid solution)
1400

1300

1200 a Phase Diagram for Cu-Ni system

1100
(FCC solid
solution)
1000
0 20 40 60 80 100 wt% Ni
 Phase Diagrams: Determination of Phases Represent

Solidus - Temperature where alloy is completely solid. Above this line, liquefaction begins.
Liquidus - Temperature where alloy is completely liquid. Below this line, solidification begins.
Phase Diagrams and Composition of Phases
Tie Line
1. The tie line is constructed across
the two-phase region at the
temperature of the alloy.
2. The overall alloy composition is
located on the tie line.
3. The fraction of one phase is
computed by taking the length of
tie line from the overall alloy
composition to the phase
boundary for the other phase, and
dividing by the total tie line
length.
 Lever Rule

• The Lever Rule is used to calculate the weight % of the phase in any two-
phase
• In general:
Phase Diagrams and weight fractions of Phases
Microstructural changes
during solidification

Schematic representation of the

development of microstructure
during the equilibrium
solidification of a 35 wt% Ni–
65 wt% Cu alloy.