ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No.

Iron-Carbon alloys
 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 2

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this section, students will be able to:-

• Identify the important phase transformations possible in the

Fe-C system.

• Identify the particular mechanical properties associated with

particular phases.
 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 3

Bainite: Another Fe-Fe3C

Transformation Product
Bainite:
Needles of cementite,
800 Austenite (stable)
TE in ferrite matrix
T(ºC) A
P
600 100% pearlite

100% bainite Fe3C

400 A B
(cementite)
a (ferrite)
200
100
0%

50%

10-1 10 103 105

time (s)
Adapted from Fig. 10.18, Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
5 mm
Adapted from Fig. 10.17, Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
(Fig. 10.17 from Metals Handbook, 8th ed., Vol. 8,
Metallography, Structures, and Phase Diagrams,
American Society for Metals, Materials Park, OH,
1973.)
 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 4

Spheroidite: Another microstructure

for the Fe-Fe3C system
Spheroidite:
a
• Fe3C particles within an
(ferrite)
a-ferrite matrix.
• Formation requires
Fe3C
diffusion.
(cementite)
• Heat bainite or pearlite at
T° just below eutectoid for
long time
60 m
• Driving force – reduction Adapted from Fig. 10.19, Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
(Fig. 10.19 copyright United States Steel Corporation,
of the a-ferrite/Fe3C 1971.)

interfacial area.
 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 5

Martensite: A nonequilibrium
transformation product
Martensite: g (FCC) to Martensite (BCT)

60 m
Martensite needles
Austenite

Adapted from Fig. 10.21, Callister & Rethwisch 8e. (Fig.

Adapted from Fig. 10.20, Callister & Rethwisch 8e 10.21 courtesy United States Steel Corporation.)
 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 6

Tempered martensite
Heat treat martensite to form tempered martensite

1800

Tensile Strength (Mpa)

Yield Strength (MPa)
1600 TS
9 mm

1400 YS

1200 60
1000 50
%RA %RA
40
800 30
α ferrite 200 400 600

Fe3C (cementite) Tempering T (ºC)

Adapted from Fig. 10.33, Callister & Rethwisch 8e. (Fig. 10.33 Adapted from Fig. 10.34, Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
copyright by United States Steel Corporation, 1971.) (Fig. 10.34 adapted from Fig. furnished courtesy of
Republic Steel Corporation.)
 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 7

Steel to Coarse Pearlite?

 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 8

Steel to Bainite to Spherodite?

10^2.5
 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 9

Steel to Tempered Martensite?

 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 10

Steel to 50% Fine Pearlite, 25% Bainite,

25% Martensite?

3s 50s
 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 11

Phase transformations of alloys

Effect of adding other elements

 Change transition temperature

Cr, Ni, Mo, Si, Mn

retard    + Fe3C reaction (and

formation of pearlite, bainite)

Adapted from Fig. 10.23,

Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 12
Continuous cooling
transformation diagrams
Conversion of isothermal
transformation diagram to
continuous cooling
transformation diagram

Cooling curve
Adapted from Fig. 10.25,
Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 13

Summary of possible transformations

Adapted from
Austenite (g) Fig. 10.36,
Callister &
Rethwisch 8e.
slow moderate rapid
cool cool quench

Pearlite Bainite Martensite

(a + Fe3C layers + a (a + elong. Fe3C particles) (BCT phase
proeutectoid phase) diffusionless
transformation)

martensite reheat
t. martensite
Strength

Ductility

bainite Tempered
fine pearlite Martensite
coarse pearlite (a + very fine
spheroidite Fe3C particles)
General Trends
 ENR116 – Mod. 3- Slide No. 14

Summary

• Isothermal transformation diagrams identify the beginning,

mid point and end of a transformation.

• Using both isothermal and continuous cooling

transformation diagrams the microstructure for specific
heat treatments can be predicted.

• For Fe-C alloys many microstructures with different

mechanical properties can be prepared