Iron Carbon Diagram

A study of the constitution and structure of all steels and irons must first sta
rt with the iron-carbon equilibrium diagram. Many of the basic features of this
system influence the behavior of even the most complex alloy steels.
For example, the phases found in the simple binary Fe-C system persist in comple
x steels, but it is necessary to examine the effects alloying elements have on t
he formation and properties of these phases. The iron-carbon diagram provides a
valuable foundation on which to build knowledge of both plain carbon and alloy s
teels in their immense variety.
A study of the constitution and structure of all steels and irons must first sta
rt with the iron-carbon equilibrium diagram. Many of the basic features of this
system (Fig. 1) influence the behavior of even the most complex alloy steels. Fo
r example, the phases found in the simple binary Fe-C system persist in complex
steels, but it is necessary to examine the effects alloying elements have on the
formation and properties of these phases. The iron-carbon diagram provides a va
luable foundation on which to build knowledge of both plain carbon and alloy ste
els in their immense variety.
Fig. 1. The iron-carbon diagram.

It should first be pointed out that the normal equilibrium diagram really repres
ents the metastable equilibrium between iron and iron carbide (cementite). Cemen
tite is metastable, and the true equilibrium should be between iron and graphite
. Although graphite occurs extensively in cast irons (2-4 wt % C), it is usually
difficult to obtain this equilibrium phase in steels (0.03-1.5 wt %C). Therefor
e, the metastable equilibrium between iron and iron carbide should be considered
, because it is relevant to the behavior of most steels in practice.
The much larger phase field of ?-iron (austenite) compared with that of a-iron (
ferrite) reflects the much greater solubility of carbon in ?-iron, with a maximu
m value of just over 2 wt % at 1147C (E, Fig.1). This high solubility of carbon i
n ?-iron is of extreme importance in heat treatment, when solution treatment in
the ?-region followed by rapid quenching to room temperature allows a supersatur
ated solid solution of carbon in iron to be formed.
The a-iron phase field is severely restricted, with a maximum carbon solubility
of 0.02 wt% at 723C (P), so over the carbon range encountered in steels from 0.05
to 1.5 wt%, a-iron is normally associated with iron carbide in one form or anot
her. Similarly, the d-phase field is very restricted between 1390 and 1534C and d
isappears completely when the carbon content reaches 0.5 wt% (B).
There are several temperatures or critical points in the diagram, which are impo
rtant, both from the basic and from the practical point of view.
Firstly, there is the A1, temperature at which the eutectoid reaction occurs (PS-K), which is 723C in the binary diagram.
Secondly, there is the A3, temperature when a-iron transforms to ?-iron. For pur
e iron this occurs at 910C, but the transformation temperature is progressively l
owered along the line GS by the addition of carbon.
The third point is A4 at which ?-iron transforms to d-iron, 1390C in pure iron, h
ut this is raised as carbon is added. The A2, point is the Curie point when iron
changes from the ferro- to the paramagnetic condition. This temperature is 769C
for pure iron, but no change in crystal structure is involved. The A1, A3 and A4
points are easily detected by thermal analysis or dilatometry during cooling or
heating cycles, and some hysteresis is observed. Consequently, three values for
each point can be obtained. Ac for heating, Ar for cooling and Ae (equilibrium}
, but it should be emphasized that the Ac and Ar values will be sensitive to the
rates of heating and cooling, as well as to the presence of alloying elements.
The great difference in carbon solubility between ?- and a-iron leads normally t
o the rejection of carbon as iron carbide at the boundaries of the ? phase field
. The transformation of ? to a - iron occurs via a eutectoid reaction, which pla
ys a dominant role in heat treatment.
The eutectoid temperature is 723C while the eutectoid composition is 0.80% C(s).
On cooling alloys containing less than 0,80% C slowly, hypo-eutectoid ferrite is
formed from austenite in the range 910-723C with enrichment of the residual aust
enite in carbon, until at 723C the remaining austenite, now containing 0.8% carbo
n transforms to pearlite, a lamellar mixture of ferrite and iron carbide (cement
ite). In austenite with 0,80 to 2,06% carbon, on cooling slowly in the temperatu
re interval 1147C to 723C, cementite first forms progressively depleting the auste
nite in carbon, until at 723C, the austenite contains 0.8% carbon and transforms
to pearlite.
Steels with less than about 0.8% carbon are thus hypo-eutectoid alloys with ferr
ite and pearlite as the prime constituents, the relative volume fractions being
determined by the lever rule which states that as the carbon content is increase
d, the volume percentage of pearlite increases, until it is 100% at the eutectoi
d composition. Above 0.8% C, cementite becomes the hyper-eutectoid phase, and a
similar variation in volume fraction of cementite and pearlite occurs on this si
de of the eutectoid composition.
The three phases, ferrite, cementite and pearlite are thus the principle constit
uents of the infrastructure of plain carbon steels, provided they have been subj
ected to relatively slow cooling rates to avoid the formation of metastable phas
es.
The austenite- ferrite transformation
Under equilibrium conditions, pro-eutectoid ferrite will form in iron-carbon all
oys containing up to 0.8 % carbon. The reaction occurs at 910C in pure iron, but
takes place between 910C and 723C in iron-carbon alloys.
However, by quenching from the austenitic state to temperatures below the eutect
oid temperature Ae1, ferrite can be formed down to temperatures as low as 600C. T
here are pronounced morphological changes as the transformation temperature is l
owered, which it should be emphasized apply in general to hypo-and hyper-eutecto
id phases, although in each case there will be variations due to the precise cry
stallography of the phases involved. For example, the same principles apply to t
he formation of cementite from austenite, but it is not difficult to distinguish
ferrite from cementite morphologically.
The austenite-cementite transformation
The Dube classification applies equally well to the various morphologies of ceme
ntite formed at progressively lower transformation temperatures. The initial dev
elopment of grain boundary allotriomorphs is very similar to that of ferrite, an
d the growth of side plates or Widmanstaten cementite follows the same pattern.
The cementite plates are more rigorously crystallographic in form, despite the f
act that the orientation relationship with austenite is a more complex one.
As in the case of ferrite, most of the side plates originate from grain boundary
allotriomorphs, but in the cementite reaction more side plates nucleate at twin
boundaries in austenite.
The austenite-pearlite reaction
Pearlite is probably the most familiar micro structural feature in the whole sci
ence of metallography. It was discovered by Sorby over 100 years ago, who correc
tly assumed it to be a lamellar mixture of iron and iron carbide.
Pearlite is a very common constituent of a wide variety of steels, where it prov
ides a substantial contribution to strength. Lamellar eutectoid structures of th
is type are widespread in metallurgy, and frequently pearlite is used as a gener
ic term to describe them.
These structures have much in common with the cellular precipitation reactions.
Both types of reaction occur by nucleation and growth, and are, therefore, diffu
sion controlled. Pearlite nuclei occur on austenite grain boundaries, but it is
clear that they can also be associated with both pro-eutectoid ferrite and cemen
tite. In commercial steels, pearlite nodules can nucleate on inclusions.

Iron Carbon Diagram

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A study of the constitution and structure of all steels and irons must first sta

Fig. 1. The iron-carbon diagram.

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