Exercises: Phase Diagrams

1. For a Cu-Ag alloy consisting of 80 wt. % Cu determine the compositions of the solid and liquid phases and
calculate their percentage weight fractions when this alloy is cooled to 900°C.

2. A Cu-Ag alloy consists of 71.9 wt. % Ag. What are the compositions of the individual phases present and
their percentage weight fractions in this alloy if it is cooled to (i) 780 °C, (ii) 778 °C, (iii) room
temperature?

3. A Cu-Ag alloy contains 40 wt. % Ag.

(a) What are the compositions of the proeutectic (i.e. primary) solid and the liquid phase and their
percentage weight fractions in this alloy when it is cooled to 780 °C.
(b) What are the percentage weight fractions of proeutectic solid and eutectic solid when the alloy is cooled
to 778 °C?
(c) What are the compositions of the individual phases comprising the proeutectic solid and the eutectic
solid at 778°C?

4. By simple inspection of the Cu-Ag phase diagram make neat, approximate sketches of the following Cu-
Ag alloys:-
(a) 40 wt. % Ag at 900 °C, 780 °C, 778 °C.
(b) 71.9 wt. % Ag at 778 °C.
(c) 95 wt. % Ag at 779 °C, 500 °C.

1200

Liquidus
1000 Liquid
Solidus
α+L
β+L
Temperature (°C)

800 779°C
α β
8.0 71.9 91.2

600
Solvus
Solvus
α+β
400

200
0 20 40 60 80 100
(Cu) Composition (wt% Ag) (Ag)
 The iron-carbon phase diagram
(Refer to the appropriate version of the Fe-C diagrams given on the following page)

1. By inspection determine how many times greater is the maximum solubility of carbon in austenite than in
ferrite? What are the respective temperatures at which these maximum solubilities occur?

2. What minimum temperature must a steel of (a) 0.4%, (b) 0.8% carbon be heated to in order for it to be
fully austenitic?

3. Calculate the percentage weight fractions of phases present in steels of 0.2% and 1.4% carbon content
respectively if they are slowly cooled from the austenite region to just above the eutectoid temperature. If
these alloys are now cooled to just below the eutectoid temperature determine the weight fractions of the
proeutectoid (or primary) phase and the eutectoid microconstituent respectively. (Note: we use the term
‘microconstituent’ because strictly speaking the eutectoid portion of the structure is not a single phase.
Rather, it is an intimate mixture of of two quite distinct phases. What are these two distinct phases?)

4. A steel has a microstructure consisting of 100% pearlite. What is its overall carbon content? What is the
composition of each phase comprising this pearlite at (a) 722 °C, (b) room temperature?

5. A steel cooled to just below the eutectoid temperature has a microstructure consisting of 25% pearlite and
the remainder primary ferrite. What is the composition of this steel?

6. A steel cooled to just below the eutectoid temperature consists of 90% pearlite and the remainder
proeutectoid or primary cementite. Determine the composition of this steel.

7. This problem is an exercise in relating microstructure to carbon composition using the phase diagram.
Consider two plain carbon steels that have been slow-cooled: steel A has a carbon content that is 0.2%
above the eutectoid composition and steel B has a carbon content that is 0.2% below the eutectoid
composition. Identify and calculate the respective amounts of proeutectoid (i.e. primary) and eutectoid
phase in these two steels and draw their respective microstructures. Assuming that there is no obvious
difference in the optical appearance under a microscope of the proeutectoid phases in the two steels how
would you decide which is the hypo-eutectoid steel and which is the hyper-eutectoid steel?
 1000
γ

900
γ + Fe3C
α+γ
800
0.02 723°C
Temperature (°C)

700
α
600

500 Fe3C
α + Fe3C
400

0 0.4 0.8 6.67

100%
Weight Percent Carbon
Fe

1600 L+δ
δ
Liquid
1400
γ+δ L + Fe3C
L+γ
1200 1148°C
1.7 4.3
γ austenite
1000
Temperature (°C)

γ + Fe3C

800 α
+γ 723°C
α
0.8
600

400
Fe3C
α + Fe3C
200

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.67
100% Fe3C
Weight Percent Carbon
Fe
1. For a Cu-Ag alloy consisting of 80 wt. % Cu determine the compositions of the solid and liquid phases and
calculate their percentage weight fractions when this alloy is cooled to 900 °C.

1200

1000 Liquid

α+L
α β+L
Temperature (°C)

800 779°C
8.0 71.9 91.2
778°C
β
600

α+β
400

8 42.5 91.2
200
0 20 40 60 80 100
(Cu) Composition (wt% Ag) (Ag)

Composition of the solid and liquid phases of the alloy at 900 °C:

Draw tieline a-b across (α + L) phase field at 900 °C

Divide this tieline at point c which corresponds to the bulk alloy composition of 80 wt. % Cu (i.e. 20 wt. % Ag).

Draw down from point a to find the composition of the α phase = 8 wt. % Ag.
Draw down from point b to find the composition of the Liq phase = 42.5 wt. % Ag.

Percentage weight fractions of the alloy at 900 °C:

cb 100 42.5 − 20 100

% wt fraction of α at 900 °C = × = × = 65%α
ab 1 42.5 − 8 1

ac 100 20 − 8 100
% wt fraction of Liq at 900 °C = × = × = 35% Liq
ab 1 42.5 − 8 1
2. A Cu-Ag alloy consists of 71.9 wt. % Ag. What are the compositions of the individual phases present and
their percentage weight fractions in this alloy if it is cooled to (i) 780 °C, (ii) 778 °C, (iii) room
temperature?

Refer to Diagram A
The bulk composition of the alloy is right on the eutectic composition, i.e. it is the eutectic alloy.

(i) At 780 °C:

The alloy is 100 % Liquid.

(ii) At 778 °C:

The alloy has transformed completely to the solid eutectic (α + β).
Draw a tieline across the α + β field at 778 °C. The composition of the α + β can be derived from the intersection of
the tieline with the Solvus boundaries:

Composition of α determined from point d = 8 wt. % Ag.

Composition of β determined from point f = 91.2 wt. % Ag.

Percentage weight fractions of the alloy at 778 °C:

Divide tieline d-f at bulk composition e:

ef 100 91.2 − 71.9 100

% wt fraction of α at eutectic solid = × = × = 23%α
df 1 91.2 − 8 1

ed 100 71.9 − 8 100

% wt fraction of β at eutectic solid = × = × = 77% β
df 1 91.2 − 8 1

(iii) At Room Temp:

Not shown on Phase Diagram, However Solvus lines slope back to their respective pure metal compositions as the
temperature decreases. Therefore at room temperature α is 100 % Cu and β is 100 % Ag.

The Tieline at room temperature is divided up by original bulk composition.

Therefore at room temperature:

100 − 71.9 100

% wt fraction of α = × = 28%α
100 − 0 1

71.9 − 0 100
% wt fraction of β = × = 72% β
100 − 0 1
3. A Cu-Ag alloy contains 40 wt. % Ag.
(a) What are the compositions of the proeutectic (i.e. primary) solid and the liquid phase and their
percentage weight fractions in this alloy when it is cooled to 780 °C.
(b) What are the percentage weight fractions of proeutectic solid and eutectic solid when the alloy is cooled
to 778 °C?
(c) What are the compositions of the individual phases comprising the proeutectic solid and the eutectic
solid at 778°C?
1200

1000 Liquid

780°C
α+L
α β+L
Temperature (°C)

800
8.0 779°C 71.9 91.2
β
778°C
600

α+β
400

71.9
8
200
0 20 40 60 80 100
(Cu) Composition (wt% Ag) (Ag)
Refer to Diagram B.

(a) cooled to 780 °C:

Draw alloy bulk composition vertical at 40 wt. % Ag. Add a tieline a-b across (α + L) phase at 780 °C, intersecting
composition line at point c.

Therefore composition of proeutectic α is given by point a = 8 wt. % Ag.

Therefore composition of Liquid is given by point b = 71.9 wt. % Ag.

cb 100 71.9 − 40 100

% wt fraction of proeutectic α at 780 °C = × = × = 50%α
ab 1 71.9 − 8 1

ac 100 40 − 8 100
% wt fraction of Liq at 780 °C = × = × = 50% Liq
ab 1 71.9 − 8 1
(b) % weight fractions at 778 °C:
The remaining liquid at 780 °C is of eutectic composition (71.9 wt. % Ag), when the temperature is lowered to 778
°C this liquid transforms completely into eutectic (α + β) solid.

From 3 (a), there was 50 % solid proeutectic α and 50 % liquid, therefore at 778 °C there is 50 % solid proeutectic α
and 50 % eutectic (α + β) solid.

(c) Composition at 778 °C:

At 778 °C the compositions of the proeutectic α and the eutectic (α + β) are obtained from the ends of the tieline
across the (α + β) region at 778 °C.

α (both proeutectic and eutectic) = 8 wt. % Ag.

β (i.e. in eutectic) = 91.2 wt. % Ag.
4. By simple inspection of the Cu-Ag phase diagram make neat, approximate sketches of the following Cu-
Ag alloys:-
(a) 40 wt. % Ag at 900 °C, 780 °C, 778 °C. (b) 71.9 wt. % Ag at 778 °C.
(c) 95 wt. % Ag at 779 °C, 500 °C. See Diagram C Below.

Proeut α L Proeut α eutectic

Proeut α L
α+β

(a)

40% Ag @ 900°C 40% Ag @ 780°C 40% Ag @ 778°C

1200

1000 Liquid

780°C
α+L
α β+L
Temperature (°C)

800
8.0 779°C 71.9 91.2
β
778°C
600

α+β
400

71.9
8
200
0 20 40 60 80 100
(Cu) Composition (wt% Ag) (Ag)

α
(b) α (c)
β
β eutectic
solid
α
β β
β

71.9% Ag @ 778°C 95% Ag @ 779°C 95% Ag @ 500°C

 Questions on the Iron-carbon phase diagram
1. By inspection determine how many times greater is the maximum solubility of carbon in austenite than in
ferrite? What are the respective temperatures at which these maximum solubilities occur? See diagram D.

1600 L+
δ Max Carbon Solubility in γ is 1.7
Liquid
1400 wt. % at 1148 °C.
γ+δ L + Fe3C
L+γ Max Carbon Solubility in α is 0.02
1200 1148°C
wt. % at 723 °C.
1.7 4.3
γ austenite
1000 Therefore solubility in γ is 1.7/0.02,
Temperature (°C)

γ + Fe3C approx = 85 times greater than in α

800 α
+γ 723°C
α
0.8
600

400
Fe3C
α + Fe3C
200

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.67
100% Fe3C
Weight Percent Carbon
Fe

2. What minimum temperature must a steel of (a) 0.4%, (b) 0.8% carbon be heated to in order for it to be
fully austenitic? See Diagram E.

1000
γ Min temp for 100 % γ at
0.4 % Carbon is
900
approx = 810 °C.
γ + Fe3C
800 α+γ Min temp for 100 % γ at
0.02 723°C 0.8 % Carbon is
approx = 723 °C.
Temperature (°C)

700
α
600

500 Fe3C
α + Fe3C
400

0 0.4 0.8 6.67

100%
Weight Percent Carbon
Fe
3. Calculate the percentage weight fractions of phases present in steels of 0.2% and 1.4% carbon content
respectively if they are slowly cooled from the austenite region to just above the eutectoid temperature. If
these alloys are now cooled to just below the eutectoid temperature determine the weight fractions of the
proeutectoid (or primary) phase and the eutectoid microconstituent respectively. (Note: we use the term
‘microconstituent’ because strictly speaking the eutectoid portion of the structure is not a single phase.
Rather, it is an intimate mixture of of two quite distinct phases. What are these two distinct phases?)

First apply the leaver rule using the tieline drawn just above 723 °C in the α + γ region.

For 0.2 % C alloy

0.8 − 0.2 100
% wt fraction of proeutectoid α = × = 77%α
0.8 − 0.02 1

0.2 − 0.02 100

% wt fraction of proeutectoid γ = × = 23%γ
0.8 − 0.02 1
For 0.4 % C alloy
0.8 − 0.4 100
% wt fraction of proeutectoid α = × = 51%
0.8 − 0.02 1
Thus % wt fraction of proeutectoid γ = 49 %

For 0.8 % C Alloy

At just above 723 °C structure is entirely γ

For 1.4 % C alloy

The Proeutectoid phase is now Fe3C
1.4 − 0.8 100
% wt fraction of Fe3C = × = 10%
6.7 − 0.8 1
Thus % wt fraction of γ = 90 %

If we now reduce the temp pf these alloys to just below 723 ° the γ transforms to (α + Fe3C) pearlite.
Therefore:
0.2 % C Steel contains 77 % proeutectic ferrite (α) & 23 % pearlite (α + Fe3C).
0.4 % C Steel contains 51 % proeutectic ferrite (α) & 49 % pearlite (α + Fe3C).
0.8 % C Steel contains 100 % pearlite (α + Fe3C).
1.4 % C Steel contains 10 % proeutectic Fe3C & 90 % pearlite (α + Fe3C).

The microconstituent pearlite consists of ferrite (α) and Fe3C (Cementite).

4. A steel has a microstructure consisting of 100% pearlite. What is its overall carbon content? What is the
composition of each phase comprising this pearlite at (a) 722 °C, (b) room temperature?

100 % pearlite structure must come from austenite (γ) at 0.8 % C.

1000
γ

900 (a) Draw tieline just below 723.

γ + Fe3C Therefore pearlite consists of α of 0.02 %
α+γ
800 C and Fe3C at 6.7 % C.
0.02 723°C
Temperature (°C)

700 (b) At room temperature α is pure Fe and

α Fe3C remains at 6.7 % C.
600

500 Fe3C
α + Fe3C
400

0 0.4 0.8 6.67

100%
Weight Percent Carbon
Fe

5. A steel cooled to just below the eutectoid temperature has a microstructure consisting of 25% pearlite and
the remainder primary ferrite. What is the composition of this steel?

1000
γ
Pearlite is always derived from γ.
900 Therefore the structure must have
α+γ γ + Fe3C had 25 % γ just above 723 °C with
800
the remainder comprising of
0.02 723°C
proeutectic ferrite (α).
Temperature (°C)

700
The steel composition C1, can
α
therefore be determined by drawing
600 a tieline across the α + γ rejoin just
above 723 °C and dividing at he 25
500 Fe3C % γ point.
α + Fe3C
400 C1 − 0.02 100
i.e. × = 25%
0.8 − 0.02 1
0 0.4 0.8 6.67 therefore C1 = 0.22 % Carbon.
100%
Weight Percent Carbon
Fe
6. A steel cooled to just below the eutectoid temperature consists of 90% pearlite and the remainder
proeutectoid or primary cementite. Determine the composition of this steel.

1000
γ

900
Draw tieline across γ + Fe3C just above 723 °C
γ + Fe3C
α+γ and divide at C2 to give 90 % γ.
800
0.02 723°C
6.7 − C 2 100
Temperature (°C)

× = 90%
700
i.e.
600
α
6.7 − 0.8 1

500 Fe3C therefore C2 = 1.4 % Carbon.

α + Fe3C
400

0 0.4 0.8 6.67

100%
Fe Weight Percent Carbon

7. This problem is an exercise in relating microstructure to carbon composition using the phase diagram.
Consider two plain carbon steels that have been slow-cooled: steel A has a carbon content that is 0.2%
above the eutectoid composition and steel B has a carbon content that is 0.2% below the eutectoid
composition. Identify and calculate the respective amounts of proeutectoid (i.e. primary) and eutectoid
phase in these two steels and draw their respective microstructures. Assuming that there is no obvious
difference in the optical appearance under a microscope of the proeutectoid phases in the two steels how
would you decide which is the hypo-eutectoid steel and which is the hyper-eutectoid steel?
1000
γ

900
For 0.6 % C Steel
γ + Fe3C
α+γ Wt % proeutectic α =
800
0.8 − 0.6 100
0.02 723°C
× = 25%
Temperature (°C)

700
0.8 − 0.2 1
α
Therefore wt % Pearlite = 75 %.
600

500 Fe3C Pearlite

α + Fe3C (α + Fe3C) 75%
400
0.6 1.

0 0.4 0.8 6.67

100%
Weight Percent Carbon
Proeutectoid
Fe α 25%
For 1.0 % C Steel 0.6 % C Steel
1.0 − 0.8 100
Wt % proeutectic Fe3C = × = 3.4%
6.67 − 0.8 1 Pearlite
Therefore wt % Pearlite = 96.6 % %. (α + Fe3C) 96.6%

*Thus, only by microscopic inspection can we easily

distinguish between the hyper and hypo eutectitoid
Proeutectoid
steels. i.e. the hypereutectic sample will contain Fe3C 3.4%
lower fraction of the proeutectictoid phase.
1.0 % C Steel
Exercises on constructing phase diagrams
The following two problems are exercises in ‘reverse engineering’ of phase diagrams. They are aimed at testing
your understanding. Both are typical of the phase diagrams we have studied in lectures. If you have any
difficulty in completing these, revise carefully your lecture notes.

1. On the set of axes provided, construct a phase diagram from the following information:
(a) Pure metals A and B form a binary phase diagram with complete solid solubility.
(b) These pure metals have melting temperatures of 950ºC and 350ºC respectively.
(c) An alloy X1 of bulk composition 20 wt% B held at a temperature of 840ºC consists of 50 wt% solid α (with
a composition of 10 wt% B) and 50 wt% liquid (with a composition of 29 wt% B).
(d) An alloy X2 of bulk composition 50 wt% B held at a temperature of 600 ºC consists of 75 wt% solid α
(having a composition of 43 wt% B) and 25 wt% liquid (having a composition of 73 wt% B).
(e) An alloy X3 of bulk composition 85 wt% B has just completed freezing at a temperature of 400 ºC, the last
remaining liquid present just before this final freezing took place had a composition of 96 wt% B.
(f)
1000ºC
X1 X2 X3

a b

c d

500ºC

e f

0ºC
A B
0 50 100

Wt percent B
2. Using the axes provided below sketch a phase diagram from the information given. (Note: for this problem
assume all phase boundaries you draw are linear)
(a) Pure metals C and D form a binary eutectic phase diagram.
(b) These pure metals have melting temperatures TC and TD respectively.
(c) For a composition of 70wt% C, 100% liquid exists down to a temperature TE at which point it transforms
into two solid phases.
(d) The temperature TE has a value of 0.75TC.
(e) The maximum solubility of metal D in metal C is 10wt%.
(f) The maximum solubility of metal C in metal D is 30wt%.
(g) The maximum solubility of metal D in metal C at room temperature TRT is 2wt%.
(h) The maximum solubility of metal C in metal D at room temperature TRT is 5wt%.

Liquid of composition 70%C TD

(30%D) transforms completely
into eutectic solid at TE at this
point

TC

TE

Maximum solubility of Maximum solubility of

metal D in metal C metal C in metal D

Maximum solubility of
Maximum solubility of
metal D in metal C at RT
metal C in metal D at RT
TRT

25 50 75
C D