EG 244 Material Science I
The Iron- iron Carbide - (𝐹𝑒 − 𝐹𝑒3 𝐶) Phase Diagram
Welcome!
Enzoh Langi (PhD)
[email protected]/
[email protected] Office: HOD Mechanical Department – School of Engineering
Phase diagrams
❑ Of all binary alloy systems, the one that is possibly the most
important is that for iron and carbon.
❑ Both steels and cast irons, primary structural materials in
every technologically advanced culture, are essentially iron–
carbon alloys.
❑ This section is devoted to a study of the phase diagram for this
system and the development of several of the possible
microstructures.
❑ The relationships among heat treatment, microstructure, and
mechanical properties are explored in section.
Phase diagrams
❑ Pure iron, upon heating, experiences two changes in crystal
structure before it melts.
❑ At room temp → Ferrite (α 𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛), BCC crystal structure.
❑ At 912𝑜 𝐶 → Ferrite experiences polymorphic transformation to
FCC austenite (γ 𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛).
❑ Austenite persists to 1394𝑜 𝐶 → FCC austenite reverts back to a
BCC phase known as δ − 𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒.
❑ Melting temperature of δ−𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 will take place at 1538𝑜 𝐶
❑ All these changes are apparent along the left vertical axis of the
phase diagram.
Phase diagrams
The iron–iron carbide phase diagram
The iron–iron carbide phase diagram
Phase diagrams
Phase diagrams
❑ 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 6.67% Carbon.
α 𝐹𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 - solid solution of C in BCC Fe
❑ It is an interstitial solid solution of a small amount carbon
dissolved in α (BCC) Fe.
❑ Stable form of iron below 912𝑜 𝐶.
❑ The maximum solubility is 0.022 𝑤𝑡% 𝐶 at 727𝑜 𝐶 and it only
dissolves 0.008% 𝐶 at room temperature
❑ Transforms to FCC γ 𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒 at 912𝑜 𝐶.
❑ It is the softest structure that appears on the diagram.
Phase diagrams
γ 𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒
❑ Is an interstitial solid solution of carbon dissolved in γ (FCC) Fe
❑ Maximum solubility is 2.14 𝑤𝑡 % Carbon at 1147𝑜 𝐶
❑ High formability, most of heat treatment begin with this single
phase.
❑ Transforms to BCC δ − 𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 at 1394𝑜 𝐶
❑ It is normally not stable at room temp, but under certain
conditions it possible to obtain austenite at room temp
Phase diagrams
Photomicrographs of (a) α ferrite (90 X) and (b) austenite (325 X)
Phase diagrams
𝛿 − 𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 solid solution of C in BCC Fe
❑ The same structure as a-ferrite
❑ Stable only at high temperature, above 1394𝑜 𝐶
❑ Melts at 1538𝑜 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 α − 𝐹𝑒 and C (graphite) at 650 − 700𝑜 𝐶.
❑ It contains 6.67% C
❑ Its crystal structure is orthorhombic and it has low tensile strength
but high compressive strength
Fe-C liquid solution
Phase diagrams
Comments on Fe–Fe3C system
❑ C is an interstitial impurity in Fe. It forms a solid solution with α, γ, δ
phases of iron
❑ Maximum solubility in BCC α − 𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 is 0.022 wt% at 727𝑜 𝐶. BCC:
relatively small interstitial positions
❑ Maximum solubility in FCC austenite is 2.14 𝑤𝑡% at 1147𝑜 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.
❑ Magnetic properties: -ferrite is magnetic below 768𝑜 𝐶, austenite
is non-magnetic
❑ Classification. Three types of ferrous alloys:
Iron: < 0.008 wt % C in α − 𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 at room T
Phase diagrams
Classification. Three types of ferrous alloys:
❑ Iron: < 0.008 wt % C in α − 𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 at room T
❑ Steels: 0.008−2.14 𝑤𝑡% 𝐶 (usually < 1 𝑤𝑡 % ) α-ferrite + Fe3C at
room T.
❑ Cast iron: 2.14 − 6.7 𝑤𝑡 % (usually < 4.5 𝑤𝑡%)
Wrought Iron Steel Cast Iron
IRON IRON-CARBON DIAGRAM
Eutectic
eutectoid
Pearlite and
Cementine
Austenite
Ferrite
Pearlite and
Carbide
Pearlite
Steel Cast iron
Phase diagrams
Development of microstructure in
iron–carbon alloys
❑ Microstructure depends on
composition (carbon content) and
heat treatment.
❑ Assume slow cooling →
equilibrium maintained
❑ Microstructure of eutectoid steel
(I)
Schematic representations of the microstructures for
an iron–carbon alloy of eutectoid composition (0.76
wt% C) above and below the eutectoid temperature.
Phase diagrams
Microstructure of eutectoid steel (II)
❑ Pearlite, layered structure of two phases: a-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 a-ferrite
Phase diagrams
Microstructure of hypoeutectoid steel
(I)
❑ Compositions to the left of
eutectoid (0.022 - 0.76 wt % C)
hypoeutectoid (less than eutectoid -
Greek) alloys.
→ + → + Fe3C
Phase diagrams
Microstructure of hypoeutectoid steel (II)
❑ Hypoeutectoid contains proeutectoid ferrite formed above eutectoid
temperature and eutectoid perlite that contains ferrite and cementite.
Phase diagrams
Microstructure of hypereutectoid steel
(I)
❑ Compositions to right of eutectoid
(0.76 - 2.14 wt % C) hypereutectoid
(more than eutectoid -Greek) alloys.
→ + Fe3C → + Fe3C
Phase diagrams
Microstructure of hypereutectoid steel (II)
❑ Hypereutectoid contains proeutectoid cementite (formed above
eutectoid temperature) plus perlite that contains eutectoid ferrite
and cementite.
Phase diagrams
How to calculate the relative amounts of proeutectoid phase (α or Fe3C)
and pearlite?
Fraction of phase determined by application of lever rule across
the entire ( + Fe3C) phase field
Phase diagrams
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)
Phase diagrams
Principal phases of steel and their Characteristics
Phase Crystal structure Characteristics
Ferrite BCC Soft, ductile, magnetic
Soft, moderate
Austenite FCC
strength, non-magnetic
Compound of Iron
Cementite Hard &brittle
& Carbon Fe3C
