Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram

Iron-Carbon System
 Phases present
Reactions
Peritectic L + d g L
a ferrite
at 1493 oC and 0.18 wt% C d Bcc structure
Bcc structure Ferromagnetic
Eutectic L g + Fe3C Paramagnetic Fairly ductile
at 1147 oC and 4.3 wt% C
g austenite Fe3C cementite
Eutectoid g a + Fe3C Fcc structure Orthorhombic
Non-magnetic Hard
at 727 oC and 0.76 wt% C
ductile brittle
 PHASE COMPOSITIONS OF THE IRON-CARBON
ALLOYS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Hypoeutectoid steels (carbon content from 0.022 to 0.76%)

consist of primary (proeutectoid) ferrite and pearlite (lamellar
structure of ferrite and cementite).

Eutectoid steel (carbon content 0.76%) entirely consists of

pearlite.

Hypereutectoid steels (carbon content from 0.76 to 2.14%)

consist of primary (proeutectoid) cementite and pearlite.

Cast irons (carbon content from 2.14% to 4.3%) consist of

proeutectoid cementite, pearlite and ledeburite (eutectic
mixture of austenite and cementite).
Microstructures
MICROSTRUCTURE OF AUSTENITE
Iron-Carbon (Fe-C) Phase Diagram
2 important points T(C)
1600
d
- Eutectic (A): 1400 L
L g + Fe3C g g +L A
1200 1148C L+Fe3C
- Eutectoid (B): (austenite)

Fe3C (cementite)
g a + Fe3C 1000 g g
g g g +Fe3C
800
a B 727C = Teutectoid

600
a+Fe3C
400
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
(Fe) 0.76 4.30 C, wt% C
120 mm
Result: Pearlite = Fe3C (cementite-hard)
alternating layers of
a and Fe3C phases, a (ferrite-soft)
13
not a separate phase.
Eutectoid reaction:
g a + Fe3C
Pearlite

Redistribution of carbon by diffusion

Austenite 0.76 wt% C
Ferrite - 0.022 wt% C
Cementite - 6.70 wt% C
Microstructures for an Iron-Carbon Alloy

Schematic illustration
of the microstructures
for an iron-carbon
alloy of eutectoid
composition (0.76%
carbon) above and
below the eutectoid
temperature of 727C.
Microstructure of Steel Formed from Eutectoid Composition

Microstructure of pearlite in 1080 steel formed from austenite of

a eutectoid composition. In this lamellar structure, the lighter
regions are ferrite, and the darker regions are carbide.
Magnification: 2500x.
 MICROSTRUCTURE OF PEARLITE

Photomicrographs of (a) coarse pearlite and (b) fine pearlite (3000X)

Hypoeutectoid Steel
T(C)
1600
d
1400 L
g g g +L (Fe-C
1200
g
g g 1148C L+Fe3C System)

Fe3C (cementite)
(austenite)
g g 1000
g g g + Fe3C
a 800
ag g 727C
a
g g a
600
a + Fe3C
400
a 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
(Fe)C0
0.76

C, wt% C
pearlite

Hypoeutectoid
100 mm
steel

pearlite proeutectoid ferrite

 Hypoeutectoid Steel
T(C)
1600
d
1400 L
g +L (Fe-C
a 1200
g
1148C L+Fe3C System)

Fe3C (cementite)
ag g (austenite)
a
g g
1000
g + Fe3C
Wa = s/(r + s)
800 727C
Wg =(1 - Wa) r s
aRS
a 600
a + Fe3C
pearlite
400
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
(Fe)C0
0.76

C, wt% C
Wpearlite = Wg
Wa = S/(R + S) 100 mm
Hypoeutectoid
steel
WFe3C =(1 Wa)
pearlite proeutectoid ferrite
 Hypereutectoid Steel
T(C)
1600
d
1400 L (Fe-C
g g g g +L System)
1200 1148C L+Fe3C
g

Fe3C (cementite)
g (austenite)
g g 1000
g g g +Fe3C
Fe3C
g g 800
g g a
600
a +Fe3C
400
0 1 C0 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
0.76

(Fe) C, wt%C
pearlite

60 mmHypereutectoid
steel
pearlite proeutectoid Fe3C
 Hypereutectoid Steel
T(C)
1600
d
1400 L (Fe-C
g g +L System)
Fe3C 1200
g g 1148C L+Fe3C

Fe3C (cementite)
(austenite)
g g 1000
g +Fe3C
Wg =x/(v + x)
800 v x
WFe3C =(1-Wg)
a V X
600
a +Fe3C
pearlite
400
0 1 C0 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
0.76

(Fe) C, wt%C
Wpearlite = Wg
Wa = X/(V + X)
60 mmHypereutectoid
WFe =(1 - Wa) steel
3C
pearlite proeutectoid Fe3C
 Unit Cells

The unit cells for (a) austenite, (b) ferrite, and (c) martensite. The
effect of percentage of carbon (by weight) on the lattice
dimensions for martensite is shown in (d). Note the interstitial
position of the carbon atoms. Also note, the increase in
dimension c with increasing carbon content: this effect causes the
unit cell of martensite to be in the shape of a rectangular prism.