5/11/2017 Ironcarbonphasediagram[SubsTech]

Thefollowingphasesareinvolvedinthetransformation,occurringwithironcarbonalloys:

LLiquidsolutionofcarboniniron
ferriteSolidsolutionofcarboniniron.

Maximumconcentrationofcarboninferriteis0.09%at2719F(1493C)temperatureofthe
peritectictransformation.

ThecrystalstructureofferriteisBCC(cubicbodycentered).

Austeniteinterstitialsolidsolutionofcarboniniron.

AustenitehasFCC(cubicfacecentered)crystalstructure,permittinghighsolubilityofcarbonupto
2.06%at2097F(1147C).

Austenitedoesnotexistbelow1333F(723C)andmaximumcarbonconcentrationatthistemperatureis
0.83%.

ferritesolidsolutionofcarboniniron.

ferritehasBCCcrystalstructureandlowsolubilityofcarbonupto0.025%at1333F(723C).

ferriteexistsatroomtemperature.

Cementiteironcarbide,intermetalliccompound,havingfixedcompositionFe3C.

Cementiteisahardandbrittlesubstance,influencingonthepropertiesofsteelsandcastirons.

Thefollowingphasetransformationsoccurwithironcarbonalloys:

Alloys,containingupto0.51%ofcarbon,startsolidificationwithformationofcrystalsofferrite.Carbon
contentinferriteincreasesupto0.09%incoursesolidification,andat2719F(1493C)remaining
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5/11/2017 Ironcarbonphasediagram[SubsTech]

liquidphaseandferriteperformperitectictransformation,resultinginformationofaustenite.

Alloys,containingcarbonmorethan0.51%,butlessthan2.06%,formprimaryaustenitecrystalsinthe
beginningofsolidificationandwhenthetemperaturereachesthecurveACMprimarycementitestarsto
form.

Ironcarbonalloys,containingupto2.06%ofcarbon,arecalledsteels.

Alloys,containingfrom2.06to6.67%ofcarbon,experienceeutectictransformationat2097F(1147C).
Theeutecticconcentrationofcarbonis4.3%.

Inpracticeonlyhypoeutecticalloysareused.Thesealloys(carboncontentfrom2.06%to4.3%)are
calledcastirons.Whentemperatureofanalloyfromthisrangereaches2097F(1147C),itcontains
primaryaustenitecrystalsandsomeamountoftheliquidphase.Thelatterdecomposesbyeutectic
mechanismtoafinemixtureofausteniteandcementite,calledledeburite.

Allironcarbonalloys(steelsandcastirons)experienceeutectoidtransformationat1333F(723C).The
eutectoidconcentrationofcarbonis0.83%.

Whenthetemperatureofanalloyreaches1333F(733C),austenitetransformstopearlite(fineferrite
cementitestructure,formingasaresultofdecompositionofausteniteatslowcoolingconditions).

Criticaltemperatures

Uppercriticaltemperature(point)A3isthetemperature,belowwhichferritestartstoformasa
resultofejectionfromausteniteinthehypoeutectoidalloys.

Uppercriticaltemperature(point)ACM isthetemperature,belowwhichcementitestartstoform
asaresultofejectionfromausteniteinthehypereutectoidalloys.

Lowercriticaltemperature(point)A1isthetemperatureoftheaustenitetopearliteeutectoid
transformation.Belowthistemperatureaustenitedoesnotexist.
MagnetictransformationtemperatureA2isthetemperaturebelowwhichferriteis
ferromagnetic.

Phasecompositionsoftheironcarbonalloysatroomtemperature

Hypoeutectoidsteels(carboncontentfrom0to0.83%)consistofprimary(proeutectoid)ferrite
(accordingtothecurveA3)andpearlite.

Eutectoidsteel(carboncontent0.83%)entirelyconsistsofpearlite.
Hypereutectoidsteels(carboncontentfrom0.83to2.06%)consistofprimary
(proeutectoid)cementite(accordingtothecurveACM)andpearlite.

Castirons(carboncontentfrom2.06%to4.3%)consistofproeutectoidcementiteC2ejectedfrom
austeniteaccordingtothecurveACM,pearliteandtransformedledeburite(ledeburiteinwhich
austenitetransformedtopearlite).

totop

Relatedinternallinks

Effectofalloyingelementsonsteelproperties
Classificationofsteelsandcastirons
Carbonsteels
Alloysteels
Toolanddiesteels
Stainlesssteels
Creepresistantsteels
Castirons
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