The Higher Technological Institute
(HTI)
Summary type (Chapters)
Subject: Material
Submitted by: From students to students
Date: 8/1/2024
Mohamed Maghawry
Ch7 – Phase Diagram
Iron-Carbon
in this phase diagram, we should know
-The types of alloys & Phases.
-The reactions.
-The critical temperatures.
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Types of alloys
Iron : pure iron contain less than 0.008 wt% C.
Steel : 0.008 → 2.14 wt%C.
Cast iron : 2.14 → 6.7 wt% C.
The Phases in the Fe-C system
1. Delta Ferrite (δ Fe) 4. Cementite (Fe3C)
2. Austenite (γ) 5. Ledeburite (Fe3C + γ)
3. Alpha Ferrite (α Fe) 6. Pearlite (Fe3C + α)
The reactions
Eutectic Eutectoid Peritectic
L = γ + Fe3C γ(0.76 wt%C) = α(0.022 wt%C) + Fe3C L+δ=γ
At T=1147 C T=727 C T=1493 C
And 4.3 wt%C 0.77 wt%C 0.18 wt%C
L represents liquid
S represents solid
solutions
Three-Phase Reactions in phase diagram
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Cementite Alpha Ferrite Austenite Delta Ferrite
(Fe3C) (α Fe) (γ) (δ Fe)
Intermetallic Interstitial solid Interstitial solid Interstitial solid Definition
compound of solution of C in solution of C in solution of C in
iron and carbon BCC Fe FCC Fe BCC Fe
(iron carbide)
--- ---- ---- Between Temperatures
1394 and 1538 (C)
Contains Maximum Maximum with the melt : Combinations
6.67 wt%C solubility up to solubility up to 0.5 wt%C
0.022 wt%C at 2.14 wt%C at With austenite :
723 C 1130 C 0.18 wt%C
In single phase :
Only dissolve 0.1 wt%C
0.008 wt%C in
room
temperature
orthorhombic BCC FCC BCC Crystal Structure
Metastable Stable at room Not stable at Stable only at Stable Condition
(decomposes temperature room high
into α-Fe and C at temperature temperatures
650-700 C)
-Hardest -Softest Structure -High formability Magnetic Properties
Structure -Ductile -Soft
-Low tensile -Non magnetic
strength
-High
Compressive
strength
-Brittle
Pearlite : alternating phases of α and Fe3C phases formed under
cooling slowly to the eutectoid compositions, has the
composition of 0.76 wt% C.
Its properties intermediate to α and Fe3C phases.
Ledeburite : the eutectic mixture of austenite and cementite,
has the composition of 4.3 wt%C and formed at 1147 c.
Martensite : Super-saturated solid solution of carbon in ferrite,
formed when the steel is cooled rapidly.
The interstitial carbon atoms distort the BCC into BCT ( BC-tetragonal ) structure,
which is responsible for the hardness of quenched steel.
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Critical Temperatures
A1 : the upper limit of the ferrite / cementite phase field.
727 C ,the transformation γ(0.76 wt%C) = α(0.022 wt%C) + Fe3C
A2 : the Curie temperature where iron losses its magnetism
The pure iron still in the α-phase.
A3 : the boundary between the γ austenite and the austenite /
ferrite field.
A4 : the point in this case the α changes to δ at high
temperature (starts from 1394 C).
ACM : the boundary between the γ austenite and the austenite /
Cementite field.
MCQ
https://testbook.com/objective-questions/mcq-on-iron-carbon-
diagram--5eea6a0939140f30f369d8f5
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