4.

Syntectic Na-Zn
(L1+L2S1)

L L
µ

L1 L 1+ L 2 L2

L1 µ L +µ
2
 5. Eutectoid Fe-C
(S1S2+S3)

µ
b

¡
µ b
µ+b
 GATE-2018
Denoting L as liquid and M as solid in a phase-
diagram with the subscripts representing
different phases, a eutectoid reaction is described
by
(a) M1 → M2 + M3
(b) L1 → M1 + M2
(c) L1 + M1 → M2
(d) M1 + M2 → M3
 GATE-2018
Denoting L as liquid and M as solid in a phase-
diagram with the subscripts representing
different phases, a eutectoid reaction is described
by
(a) M1 → M2 + M3
(b) L1 → M1 + M2
(c) L1 + M1 → M2
(d) M1 + M2 → M3
 GATE-2018 (PI)
When austenite decomposes upon cooling into
two phases— ferrite and cementite, the reaction
is called
(a) Eutectic
(b) Eutectoid
(c) Peritectic
(d) Peritectoid
 6. Peritectoid Cu-Al
S1 + S2S3

µ
b

µ+r
µ
µ+b b
Isomorphus system: In a binary system when there
is complete inter-solubility between components in all
phases, the system is isomorphus.
Ex: Cu-Ni, Al2O3-Cr2O3, NiO-MgO
Azeotropic system: Some of isomorphus binary
system, the liquidus touches, the solid tangentially at a
minimum temperature which is lower then milting
temperature of either of the two components.
Au-Cu, Au-Ni
L
µ+L
½ µ+L

T
µ
½ µ +p
A B
Composition B w/o
 IES 2007
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer
using the code given below the Lists:
List I List II
(Name of the Invariant (Invariant Reaction during
Reaction) cooling)
A. Monotectic 1.LIQUID….SOLID1 + SOLID2
B. Eutectic 2.LIQUID1…..LIQUID2 + SOLID
C. Eutectoid 3.SOLID1…..SOLID1 + SOLID2
D. Peritectic 4.LIQUID + SOLID1…..SOLID2
Code: A B C D A B C D
(a)3 1 2 4 (b) 2 4 3 1
(c)3 4 2 1 (d) 2 1 3 4
 IES-2004
Consider the following lead-tin phase diagram
given below:
For which one of the following alloy compositions,
the alloy will have the lowest melting point at 185oC
(a)20% Sn and 80% Pb by weight
(b) 60% Sn and 40% Pb by weight
(c)97% Sn and 3% Pb by weight
(d) 40% Sn and 60% Pb byweight
 Lever Rule
At a point in a phase diagram, phases present and their composition (tie-line
method) along with relative fraction of phases (lever rule) can be computed.
Relative amount of liquid and solid phases is given respectively by:
cV Uc
CL = CS = CL  C S = 1
UV UV

Therefore it is not restricted to solid phases only.

 IES-2008
Assertion (A): Lever Rule can be applied to determine
relative amounts of phases present at any temperature.
Reason (R): Lever Rule is restricted to estimate relative
phases, only if they are solid phases.
(a)Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct
explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
 Example
In a binary system of A and B, if a liquid of 35% A (65%
B) is co-exists with a solid of 75% A (25% B), for an
overall composition of 40% A, the fraction of the liquid
is given by

75  40
CL   0.875
75  35
 GATE-2016
In a binary system of A and B, a liquid of
20% A (80% B) is coexisting with a solid of
70% A (30%B). For an overall composition
having 40% A, the fraction of solid is
(a) 0.40 (b) 0.50
(c) 0.60 (d) 0.75
 IES-2019 Prelims.
In the Pb-Sn system, the fraction of total α
phase is 3 times the fraction of β phase at
eutectic temperature of 182°C, Pb with 19% Sn
dissolved in it, Sn with 2.5% Pb dissolved in it,
and liquid is in equilibrium. The alloy
compositions of tin (Sn) and lead (Pb) are
nearly
(a) 28.6% and 71.4% (b) 38.6% and 61.4%
(c) 48.6% and 51.4% (d) 58.6% and 41.4%
 Fe-C alloy classification
Fe-C alloys are classified according to wt.% C present
in the alloy for technological convenience as follows:
Commercial pure irons % C < 0.008
Low-carbon/mild steels 0.008 - %C - 0.3
Medium carbon steels 0.3 - %C - 0.8
High-carbon steels 0.8- %C - 2.11
Cast irons 2.11 < %C
 Gibbs phase rule
In a system under a set of conditions, number of phases (P)
exist can be related to the number of components (C) and
degrees of freedom (F) by Gibbs phase rule.
Degrees of freedom refers to the number of independent
variables (e.g.: pressure, temperature) that can be varied
individually to effect changes in a system.
Thermodynamically derived Gibbs phase rule:
P+F=C+2
In practical conditions for metallurgical and materials
systems, pressure can be treated as a constant (1 atm.). Thus
Condensed Gibbs phase rule is written as:
P+F=C+1
 IES-2003
According to Gibbs' phase rule, the number of
degrees of freedom of an eutectic point in a binary
system is
(a)1
(b) 2
(c)0
(d) 3
 IES-2018 Main
Define 'phase' of a system. Mention Gibbs'
phase rule and describe the terms in it. Lead
and tin have complete liquid solubility and
limited solid solubility. Describe the binary
phase diagram involving lead and tin.
Explain how this phase diagram helps in
identifying composition for electrical solder
and plumbing solder.
[ 15-Marks]
The End