Materials Science I

6-Iron and Steel

6-1-The IronIron Carbide (FeFe3C) Phase

The iron-carbon phase diagram is important in engineering as it provides the basis for understanding all cast
irons and carbon steels and their heat treatment. For structural and mechanical applications, steels and other
alloys based on iron (the ferrous alloys) are the dominant engineering alloys. They are intrinsically stiff,
strong and tough, and mostly low cost.

Dr Ali Salami Golezani

Page 1

Materials Science I

Phases in the FeFe3C & Fee-Fe3C System

Phase

C.Struc

Description and Comments

Liquid

Liquid solution of C in Fe.

b.c.c

(austenite)

f.c.c.

(also called ferrite)

b.c.c

Fe3C (iron carbide or

cementite)

Complex

Pearlite

Ledeburite

.-

Dr Ali Salami Golezani

Random interstitial solid solution of C in b.c.c. Fe. Maximum

solubility of 0.08 wt% C occurs at 1492C. Pure Fe is the stable
polymorph between 1391C and 1536C
Random interstitial solid solution of C in f.c.c. Fe. Maximum
solubility of 1.7 wt% C occurs at 1130C. Pure Fe is the stable
polymorph between 914C and 1391C
Random interstitial solid solution of C in b.c.c. Fe. Maximum
solubility of 0.035 wt% C occurs at 723C. Pure Fe is the stable
polymorph below 914C
A hard and brittle chemical compound of Fe and C containing 25
atomic % (6.7 wt%) C.
The composite eutectoid structure of alternating plates of and
Fe3C produced when containing 0.80 wt% C is cooled below
723CPearlite nucleates at grain boundaries. It occurs in low,
medium and high carbon steels. It is sometimes, quite wrongly,
called a phase. It is not a phase but is a mixture of the two separate
phases and Fe3C in the proportions of 88.5% by weight of to
11.5% by weight of Fe3C. Because grains are single crystals it is
wrong to say that Pearlite forms in grains: we say instead that it
forms in nodules.
The composite eutectic structure of alternating plates of g and
Fe3C produced when liquid containing 4.3 wt% C is cooled below
1130C. Again, not a phase! Ledeburite only occurs during the
solidification of cast irons, and even then the g in ledeburite will
transform to a + Fe3C at 723C

Page 2

Materials Science I

Microstructures During the Slow Cooling of Pure Iron from the Hot Working Temperature

Microstructures During the Slow Cooling of a Eutectoid Steel from the Hot Working
Temperature

microstructure of a 0.76%C steel

Dr Ali Salami Golezani

Page 3

Materials Science I

Microstructures During the Slow Cooling of a Hypoeutectoid Steel from the Hot Working
Temperature

microstructure of a 0.38%C steel

Microstructures During the Slow Cooling of a Hypereutectoid Steel.

microstructure of a 1.4%C steel

Dr Ali Salami Golezani

Page 4

Materials Science I

5-2-Austenite Transformation

5-3-Steels

Low Carbon Steels

C < 0.25 wt% (may include HSLA with Cu, V, Ni,

Mo additions)
1. Most steels are low carbon steels
2. Least hardenable
3. Relatively soft/weak but tough/ductile
Medium Carbon Steels
O.25 wt%< C <0.60 wt%
1. Low hardenability improved by Cr, Ni
2. Heat treat by normalising and tempering
3. Stronger but less ductile/tough than low
carbon steels

High Carbon Steels

O.6 wt% < C < 1.4 wt%
1. Strongest but least ductile
Dr Ali Salami Golezani

Page 5

Materials Science I

2. Often used in hardened and tempered

condition
3. Cutting tools contain Cr, V, W, Mo carbide
formers
4. Used in knives, razor blades, springs, wire
Stainless Steels
1. Cr used for improving corrosion resistance

Dr Ali Salami Golezani

2. Cr content > 11wt%

3. Ni and Mo increase corrosion resistance
4. Martensitic, ferritic, and austenitic stainless
steels
5. Austenitic stainless steels not heat treatable

Page 6

Materials Science I

5-4-Cast Irons

Gray Iron

C - 2.5 - 4%, Si - 1.0 - 3%, Silicon is a

graphite stabilizer, Weak and brittle in tension,
as graphite flakes act as cracks. graphite flakes,
weak & brittle in tension, stronger in
compression, excellent vibrational dampening,
wear resistant

Ductile Iron
Mg or Ce causes the graphite to form nodules,
or spheres. Can have pearlite or ferrite
surrounding. Can have high strength and
reasonable ductility. raphite as nodules not
flakes, matrix often pearlite tronger but less
ductile

White Iron

1 % Si, Carbon exists as cementite. Hard and

very brittle

Maleable Iron
Heat white iron to 800-900C for long times
in neutral atmosphere. Cementite forms
graphite clusters. Strong and reasonably
ductile

Dr Ali Salami Golezani

Page 7

Materials Science I

Dr Ali Salami Golezani

Page 8