The Iron-Iron Carbide Phase

Diagram
Heat Treatment of Steel
 Features
Phases present
L
 ferrite
 Bcc structure
Bcc structure Ferromagnetic
Paramagnetic Fairly ductile

 austenite Fe3C cementite

Fcc structure Orthorhombic
Reactions Non-magnetic Hard
ductile brittle
Peritectic L +  = 
Max. solubility of C in ferrite=0.022%
Eutectic L = + Fe3C
Max. solubility of C in austenite=2.11%
Eutectoid  =  + Fe3C
 Microstructures

 
 Steels
Steel is an interstitial solid solution of carbon in iron.

Theoretically steel has a maximum of 2.11% carbon.

In practice, the amount of carbon rarely exceeds 0.8%

Classification/Nomenclature
Low carbon steels up to 0.2%C AISI 1020:
Last two numbers indicate
Medium carbon steels 0.2-0.4%C Amount of carbon :0.2%C
10 indicates plain carbon steel
High carbon steels >0.4% C AISI 4340: 0.4%C
43 indicates alloy steel
Microstructural changes in steel on
cooling for different compositions
Eutectoid steel
Hypoeutectoid steel
Hypereutectoid steel