How to calculate the total amount of  phase (both eutectic

and primary)?
Fraction of  phase determined by application of the lever rule
across the entire  +  phase field:

W = (Q+R) / (P+Q+R) ( phase)

W = P / (P+Q+R) ( phase)

1
 Intermediate Phases
So far only two solid phases (andTerminal solid
solutions
Some binary systems have intermediate solid solution
phases.
Cu-Zn: and are terminal solid solutions,
’, are intermediate solid solutions.

2
 Intermetallic Compounds
Intermetallic compounds 
precise chemical compositions exist in some systems.
Using the lever rules, intermetallic compounds are treated like any other
phase, They appear as a vertical line.

intermetallic
compound

Two eutectic diagrams: Mg-Mg2Pb and Mg2Pb-Pb. Intermetallic

compound Mg2Pb is considered a component. 3
 Eutectoid Reactions (I)
Eutectoid (eutectic-like in Greek) reaction similar to
eutectic reaction
One solid phase to two new solid phases
Invariant point (the eutectoid)  Three solid phases in
equilibrium. Upon cooling, a solid phase transforms into
two other solid phases (   +  below)

Cu-Zn

Eutectoid

4
 Eutectoid Reactions (II)

Contains an eutectic reaction

and an eutectoid reaction
5
 Peritectic Reactions
Peritectic  solid phase + liquid phase will together form a second
solid phase at a particular temperature and composition upon cooling
L+
Reactions are slow as product phase will form at boundary between
two reacting phases separating them

Peritectics are not as common as eutectics and eutectiods.

There is one in Fe-C system
6
 Congruent Phase Transformations
Congruent transformation  no change in composition
(e.g, allotropic transformation such as -Fe to -Fe or melting
transitions in pure solids). Incongruent transformation, at least one
phase changes composition (eutectic, eutectoid, peritectic).

Congruent Ni-Ti
melting of 

7
 The Iron–Iron Carbide (Fe–Fe3C) Phase Diagram
Steels: alloys of Iron (Fe) and Carbon (C).
Fe-C phase diagram is complex. Will only consider the steel part of the
diagram, up to around 7% Carbon.

8
 Phases in Fe–Fe3C Phase Diagram
 -ferrite - solid solution of C in BCC Fe
• Stable form of iron at room temperature.
• The maximum solubility of C is 0.022 wt%
• Transforms to FCC -austenite at 912 C
 -austenite - solid solution of C in FCC Fe
• The maximum solubility of C is 2.14 wt %.
• Transforms to BCC -ferrite at 1395 C
• Is not stable below the eutectic temperature
(727  C) unless cooled rapidly (Chapter 10)

9
 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

Phases in Fe–Fe3C Phase Diagram

 -ferrite solid solution of C in BCC Fe

• The same structure as -ferrite
• Stable only at high T, above 1394 C
• Melts at 1538 C
 Fe3C (iron carbide or cementite)
• This intermetallic compound is metastable, it remains as a compound
indefinitely at room T, but decomposes (very slowly, within several
years) into -Fe and C (graphite) at 650 - 700 C
 Fe-C liquid solution

University of Virginia, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering 10

 Comments on Fe–Fe3C system
C is an interstitial impurity in Fe. It forms a solid solution with
phases of iron
Maximum solubility in BCC -ferrite is 0.022 wt% at727 C.
BCC:relatively small interstitial positions
Maximum solubility in FCC austenite is 2.14 wt% at 1147 C - FCC
has larger interstitial positions
Mechanical properties: Cementite (Fe3C is hard and brittle:
strengthens steels. Mechanical properties also depend on
microstructure: how ferrite and cementite are mixed.

11
 Comments on Fe–Fe3C system
Magnetic properties:  -ferrite is magnetic below 768 C, austenite
is non-magnetic
Classification. Three types of ferrous alloys:
Iron: < 0.008 wt % C in ferriteat room T

Steels: 0.008 - 2.14 wt % C (usually < 1 wt % )

-ferrite +Fe3C at room T (Chapter 12)

Cast iron: 2.14 - 6.7 wt % (usually < 4.5 wt %)

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 Eutectic and eutectoid reactions in Fe–Fe3C
Eutectic: 4.30 wt% C, 1147 C
L   + Fe3C

Eutectoid: 0.76 wt%C, 727 C

(0.76 wt% C)   (0.022 wt% C) + Fe3C
Eutectic and Eutectoid reactions are important in heat treatment of
steels 13
 Microstructure in Iron - Carbon alloys
Microstructure depends on composition (carbon content) and heat
treatment. Assume slow cooling  equilibrium maintained
Microstructure of eutectoid steel (I)

14
 Microstructure of eutectoid steel (II)
Pearlite, layered structure of two phases: -ferrite and cementite
(Fe3C)

Alloy of eutectoid composition (0.76 wt % C) Layers formed for

same reason as in eutectic: Atomic diffusion of C atoms between
ferrite (0.022 wt%) and cementite (6.7 wt%)
Mechanically, properties intermediate to soft, ductile ferrite
and hard, brittle cementite. In the micrograph, the dark areas are Fe3C
layers, the light phase is -ferrite

15
 Microstructure of hypoeutectoid steel (I)
Compositions to the left of eutectoid (0.022 - 0.76 wt % C)
hypoeutectoid (less than eutectoid -Greek) alloys.

   +    + Fe3C

16
 Microstructure of hypoeutectoid steel (II)
Hypoeutectoid contains proeutectoid ferrite formed above eutectoid
temperature and eutectoid perlite that contains ferrite and
cementite.

17
 Microstructure of hypereutectoid steel (I)
Compositions to right of eutectoid (0.76 - 2.14 wt % C)
hypereutectoid (more than eutectoid -Greek) alloys.
   + Fe3C   + Fe3C

18
 Microstructure of hypereutectoid steel (II)
Hypereutectoid contains proeutectoid cementite (formed above
eutectoid temperature) plus perlite that contains eutectoid ferrite
and cementite.

19
 How to calculate the relative amounts of proeutectoid phase ( or
Fe3C) and pearlite?
Lever rule + tie line that extends from the eutectoid composition (0.75
wt% C) to  – ( + Fe3C) boundary (0.022 wt% C) for hypoeutectoid
alloys and to ( + Fe3C) – Fe3C boundary (6.7 wt% C) for
hipereutectoid alloys.

Fraction of  phase determined by application of lever rule across

20
 Example: hypereutectoid alloy, composition C1
Fraction of pearlite:

WP = X / (V+X) = (6.7 – C1) / (6.7 – 0.76)

Fraction of proeutectoid cementite:

WFe3C = V / (V+X) = (C1 – 0.76) / (6.7 – 0.76)

21
 Summary
 Austenite  Microconstituent
Make sure you understand language and concepts:
 Cementite  Pearlite
 Component  Peritectic reaction
 Congruent transformation  Phase
 Equilibrium  Phase diagram
 Eutectic phase  Phase equilibrium
 Eutectic reaction  Primary phase
 Eutectic structure  Proeutectoid cementite
 Eutectoid reaction  Proeutectoid ferrite
 Ferrite  Solidus line
 Hypereutectoid alloy  Solubility limit
 Hypoeutectoid alloy  Solvus line
 Intermediate solid solution  System
 Intermetallic compound  Terminal solid solution
 Invariant point  Tie line
 Isomorphous
 Lever rule 22
 Reading for next class:

Chapter 10: Phase Transformations in Metals

 Kinetics of phase transformations

 Multiphase Transformations
 Phase transformations in Fe-C alloys
 Isothermal Transformation Diagrams
 Mechanical Behavior
 Tempered Martensite

Optional reading (Parts that are not covered / not tested):

10.6 Continuous Cooling Transformation Diagrams

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 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

1. For an alloy of composition 52 wt% Zn–48 wt% Cu, cite the phases present and their
mass fractions at the following temperatures: 1000, 800, 500 and 300 C.

University of Virginia, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering 24

 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

University of Virginia, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering 25

 Introduction to Materials Science, Chapter 9, Phase Diagrams

9.9 It is possible to have a Cu-Ag alloy, which at equilibrium consists

of a β phase of composition 92 wt%
Ag-8 wt% Cu and a liquid phase of composition 77 wt% Ag-23 wt%
Cu. From Figure 9.7 a horizontal tie line can
be constructed across the β + L phase region at about 800°C which
intersects the L–(β + L) phase boundary at 76
wt% Ag, and also the (β + L)–β phase boundary at 92 wt% Ag.

University of Virginia, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering 26