4..

0 Imperfections in Solids and Phase Diagram DJJ30113 - Material Science and Engineering

CHAPTER 4.0
IMPERFECTIONS IN
SOLIDS AND PHASE
DIAGRAM
4.1 Impurities in solids
a. Terminology in solid solutions
b. Solid solutions
i. Substitutional solid solution
ii. Interstitial solid solution

4.2 Concepts in phase diagram

a. Solubility limits and phase diagram
b. Binary isomorphous systems
c. Interpretation of phase diagrams
d. Develpoment of microstructure in isomorphous alloys

4.3 Iron-carbon phase diagram

a. Iron-iron carbide (Fe-Fe3C) phase diagram
b. Development of microstructure in iron-carbon alloys
c. Development of microstructure in isomorphous alloys
4.1 Impurities in Solids
Solidification
- Transformation from
liquid phase to solid
phase
Process of Metal Solidification
• Start when molten metal is
cooled down to solidifies.
(turning from liquid to solid)

• Happen in metal casting

process, when molten metal
poured into mold.

• The solidification process differs

depending on whether the metal
is a pure element or an alloy.
Process of Metal Solidification

WHAT HAPPEN DURING SOLIDIFICATION?

CHANGE IN
MICROSTRUCTURE

CHANGE IN PHASE
Process of Metal Solidification
liquid liquid + solid solid

A pure metal
solidifies at a
constant
temperature,
equal to its
freezing point
(same as
melting point)

Cooling curve for a pure metal during casting

 Stages 2 – 4 :
(the growth of nuclei into
crystal)

(formation of grain
structure)

Stages in solidification of metal

- The formation of stable nuclei in the liquid metal (nucleation)
• Crystal ~ A homogenous solid formed by a repeating, three
dimensional pattern of atoms in a metal
• Grain ~ Relationship between the small, individual crystal in
a metal or alloy
• Grain boundary ~ Interface between two grains
 liquid liquid + solid solid

Phase diagram for :

a) Copper – nickel alloy system; and
b) Associated cooling curve for a 50% Ni – 50% Cu composition during casting
 ~ A solid that consists of
two or more elements
Solid Solution atomically dispersed in
a single phase structure

Substitutional Interstitial
Solid Solution Solid Solution

Disordered / Ordered /
Randomly Properly
Arrange Arrange
Principles of Solid Solution
Solid solution is a solid-state solution of one or more
solutes in a solvent.

Solvent: Solvent is a substance with dissolving capability,

thus can dissolve another substance.

Solute: Solute is a substance that dissolves in a solvent in

order to form a solution.
i) Substitutional Solid Solution

• If the atoms of the solvent metal and solute element are of

similar sizes (not more, than 15% difference)
ii) Interstitial Solid Solution

• If the atoms of the alloying elements are considerably

smaller, than the atoms of the matrix metal
• The matrix solute atoms are located in the spaces
between large solvent atoms
4.2 Concepts in Phase Diagram
Terms in Equilibrium Phase Diagram

Liquid (L)
Solid (α) + liquid (L)
Solid (α)

Equilibrium
• The most stable relationship between phases.

Phase
• Uniform physical and chemical characteristics
Terms in Equilibrium Phase Diagram

Compositions
• Content of a particular element within an alloy, usually
expressed in weight percent or atom percent.

Liquidus
• Line separates liquid from liquid + solid

Solidus
• Line separates solid from liquid + solid
 liquid liquid + solid solid

Phase diagram for :

a) Copper – nickel alloy system; and
b) Associated cooling curve for a 50% Ni – 50% Cu composition during casting
Copper – Nickle phase diagram
Point a
Point b
Point c
Point d
Point e
Point f
Example question from final exam (Jun 2016)

• Graph shows the

copper-nickel
phase diagram
i) Briefly explain the phase diagram in graph

Answer:
• The melting temperatures of pure copper and nickel are
1085˚C and 1453˚C, respectively.

• Heating pure copper corresponds to move vertically up

the left-hand temperature axis.

• Copper remains solid until its melting temperature is

reached.

• The solid-to-liquid transformation takes place at the

melting temperature, and no further heating is possible
until this transformation has been completed.
• For any composition other than pure components, this
melting phenomenon will occur over the range
temperature between the solidus and liquidus lines.

• Both solid α and liquid phases will be in equilibrium within

this temperature range.

• For example, upon heating an alloy of composition 50wt%

Ni-50wt%Cu, melting begins at approximately 1280˚C.

• The amount of liquid phase continuously increases with

temperature until about 1320˚C, at which the alloy is
completed liquid.
ii) Interpret the type of phase(s) present in A
and B

Answer:
• A : Solid (α) only
• B : Solid (α) and Liquid (L)
iii) Interpret the composition of those phase(s)
in A and B

Answer:
• A : 60wt% Ni-40wt% Cu
• B : 36wt% Ni-64wt% Cu
iv) For an alloy of composition 42 wt% Ni – 58
wt% Cu, give phase of the phases at 1150˚C
and 1500˚C

Answer:
• At 1150˚C : Solid (α) only
• At 1500˚C : Liquid (L) only
4.3 Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram
 Iron-Carbon (Fe-C) Equilibrium Phase Diagram
Temperature
Liquid

Liquid

Liquid Liquid
Iron-Carbon (Fe-C) Phase Diagram
 Ferrite to pearlite transformation

Ferrite Pearlite

0.8% Carbon

CARBON CONTENT RISES

 Phase Description
α - ferrite • Solid solution of C in Fe (iron)
• BCC crystal structure
• Max. solubility of C in Fe is 0.022% at 723˚C
• Dissolves only 0.008%C at room temperature
• Stable form of iron at room temperature
• Softest structure that appears on the Fe-C
 Phase Description
γ - austenite • Solid solution of C in γ iron
• FCC crystal structure
• High solubility for carbon compared with a α, ferrite
• Max. solubility 2.14% at 1147˚C
• Is not stable below the eutectic temperature (727˚C)
unless cooled rapidly
• Hardness : 40 HRC and toughness is high
 Phase Description
δ - ferrite • Solid solution of C in iron
• BCC crystal structure
• The max. solubility of C in Fe is 0.09% at 1495˚C
• Not stable at room temperature in plain carbon steel
• Stable only at high temp. above 1394˚C - 1539˚C
• Melts at 1538˚C
 Phase Description
Fe3C • Cementite is an intermetallic compound which
(iron carbide / contains 6.67% C and 93.3% Fe
cementite) • Metastable phase
• Crystal structure is orthorhombic
• Cementite is a hard and brittle compound
• Hardest structure that appears on the Fe-C diagram
 Phase Description
α + Fe3C • Pearlite is the eutectoid mixture containing 0.80%C
- pearlite • A lamellar or layered structure of 2 phases :
δ – ferrite and cementite (Fe3C)
• Formes at 723˚C on very slow cooling
• Lamellar mixture of ferrite and cementite
• Mechanically, pearlite has properties intermediate to
soft, ductile ferrite and hard, brittle cementite