Fe-C Diagram

IRON CARBON CONSTITUTIONAL DIAGRAM-II

 Alloys, containing
up to 0.51% of
carbon, start
solidification with
formation of crystals
of δ-ferrite. Carbon
content in δ-ferrite
increases up to
0.09% in course
solidification, and at
2719 ºF (1493ºC)
remaining liquid
phase and δ-ferrite
perform peritectic
transformation,
resulting in formation
of austenite.
Alloys, containing carbon more than 0.51%,
but less than 2.06%, form primary austenite
crystals in the beginning of solidification and
when the temperature reaches the curve ACM
primary cementite stars to form.
Iron-carbon alloys, containing up to 2.06%
carbon, are called steels.
 Alloys, containing from 2.06% to
6.67% of carbon, experience eutectic
transformation at (1130 ºC). The
eutectic concentration of carbon is
4.3%.
In practice only hypoeutectic alloys
are used. These alloys (carbon
content from 2.06% to 4.3%) are
called cast iron. When temperature
of an alloy from this range reaches
(1130 ºC), it contains primary
austenite crystals and some amount
of the liquid phase. The latter
decomposes by eutectic mechanism
to a fine mixture of austenite and
cementite, called ledeburite.
 All iron-carbon alloys (steels and cast irons) experience
eutectoid transformation at (727ºC). The eutectoid
concentration of carbon is 0.83%. When the temperature of an
alloy reaches (727ºC), austenite transforms to pearlite (fine
ferrite-cementite structure, forming as a result of
decomposition of austenite at slow cooling conditions).
 CRITICAL TEMPERATURE
 Upper critical temperature (point)
A3 is the temperature, below which ferrite
starts to form as a result of ejection from
austenite in the hypoeutectoid alloys.

 Upper critical temperature (point)

ACM is the temperature, below which
cementite starts to form as a result of
ejection from austenite in the
hypereutectoid alloys.

 Lower critical temperature (point)

A1 is the temperature of the austenite-to-
pearlite eutectoid transformation. Below
this temperature austenite does not exist.
IRON CARBON CONSTITUTIONAL DIAGRAM-II
 PHASE COMPOSITIONS OF THE IRON-
CARBON ALLOYS AT ROOM
TEMPERATURE
Hypoeutectoid steels (carbon content from 0 to 0.83%) consist of primary
proeutectoid) ferrite (according to the curve A3) and pearlite.

Eutectoid steel (carbon content 0.83%) entirely consists of pearlite.

Hypereutectoid steels (carbon content from 0.83 to 2.06%) consist of primary

(proeutectoid) cementite (according to the curve ACM) and pearlite.

Cast irons (carbon content from 2.06% to 4.3%) consist of proeutectoid

cementite C2 ejected from austenite according to the curve ACM , pearlite and
transformed ledeburite (ledeburite in which austenite transformed to pearlite.)
 PHASES OF IRON

FCC (Austenite) BCC (Ferrite) HCP (Martensite)

 Alpha
“Ferrite”,
BCC Iron
Room Temperature

 Gamma
“Austenite”,FCC Iron
Elevated Temperatures

These are PHASES of iron. Adding carbon changes the

phase transformation temperature.
IRON-CARBON (Fe-C) PHASE DIAGRAM
•Iron are alloys with less than
0.008 wt% of carbon
•Steels are carbon-iron alloys
with carbon in the range
0.008 wt.% to2.14%.
• Cast irons contain 2.14 –
6.7wt% of carbon
• Iron and carbons combined
to form Fe-Fe3C at the
6.67 % C end of the diagram.
• Eutectoid: 0.76 wt%C, 727°C

γ ⇔ α(0.022wt%C)+Fe3C

• Eutectic: 4.30 wt%C, 1147°C

L ⇔ γ (2.14 wt%C)+Fe3C
 PHASES in Fe-C SYSTEM
• δ−iron exists between 1394°C and 1538 °C
It may exist in combination with the melt to
~ 0.5 %wt C, with austenite to ~ 0.18 %wt C
and in a single phase state to ~0.10 %wt C.
Delta iron has the B.C.C crystal structure and
is magnetic

• Austenite- (γ) gamma-iron: interstitial

solid solution of carbon (up to 2.14wt%)
dissolved in iron with a (F.C.C) structure.
Stable up to 1394 °C. Non-magnetic phase.

• Ferrite - (α ) alpha -iron, which is an

interstitial solid solution of a small amount
(up to 0.022wt%) of carbon dissolved in iron
Cementite - iron carbide: chemical formula, with a B.C.C.crystal structure. Possesses
Fe3C, contains 6.67 % wt C. It is a typical polymorphic transformation to γ−iron at 912C
hard and brittle interstitial compound of It is the softest structure on the iron-iron
low tensile but high compressive strength. carbide diagram. Magnetic below 768°C
Its crystal structure is orthorhombic.
Metastable phase: at~700 °C slowly (several
years) decomposes to α-iron and carbon
 Steel Microstructure
Three significant regions can be made relative to the steel portion of the diagram:
the eutectoid E, the hypoeutectoid A, and the hypereutectoid B.

austenite

α-ferrite
Iron-Carbon Alloy:Eutectoid Composition

•Eutectoid invariant point:

0.76 wt%C, 727°C
Eutectoid Reaction:
γ ⇔ α(0.022wt%C)+Fe3C

• Pearlite (α + Fe3C): eutectoid mixture containing

0.76 %wt C and is formed at 727 C under slow cooling.
It is very fine plate-like or lamellar mixture of ferrite
(0.022 wt%C) and cementite (6.7 wt% C). The structure
of pearlite includes a white matrix (ferritic background)
which includes thin plates of cementite.
Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram
Its defined as:-
A map of the temperature at which different phase changes occur on very slow
heating and cooling in relation to Carbon content . is Isothermal and
continuous cooling transformation diagrams for plain carbon and alloy steels.

Iron- Carbon diagram shows

1- the type of alloys formed under very slow cooling.
2- Proper or ( suitable ) heat-treatment temperature .
3- the properties of steels and cast irons can be depend on changed by
heat-treatment.

In their simplest form, steels are alloys of Iron (Fe) and Carbon (C).

Notes: -
This graph, which is known as iron- carbon equilibrium diagram has the following
important points: -

1- The percentage of carbon is between 0% and 6.67%. Because:-

 6.67 % carbon is maximum ratio of carbon can be dissolved in iron.
 after 6.67 % carbon , all metallic alloys are non-important alloys in
engineering applications .

2- Iron contains from (0% to 1.7% C ) known as steel.

3- Steel contains below approximately ( 0% to 0.83 % C) known as

hypoeutectoid steel consist of primary ferrite and pearlite phases .

4- Eutectoid steel (carbon content 0.83%) entirely consists of pearlite.

5- steel contains from (0.83% to above 1.7 % C) known as hypereutectoid steel

consist of primary cementite and pearlite phases .

6- Iron contains carbon more than 1.8 % C known as cast iron.

There are two iron-carbon equilibrium diagrams:

1- stable iron-graphite Fe-Gr.

The stable condition usually takes a very long time to develop.

2- metastable iron-cementite Fe-Fe3C

University of Babylon, College of Engineering , Engineering Metallurgy , Maithem H-Rasheed

While The metastable diagram is of more interest or important .

The Iron–Iron Carbide (Fe–Fe3C) Phase Diagram

 The iron at room temperature to , was stable and called as

(Alpha iron) or ( α- ferrite ), and have a body center cubic structure
( BCC) , is ductile but not very strong. .

 After 912 C0 to 1395 C0 , the structure transform to a face center cubic

structure (FCC) and form new phase called as ( Camma iron ) or
(γ-Austenite ) .

 From 1395 C0 to 1539 C0 , the structure transform to a body center cubic

(BCC) and form new phase called as ( Delta iron ) or (δ-ferrite ) .

 1539 C0 is melting point of iron , and after this degree the iron transform
to liquid phase .

Cooling Curve of pure iron :-

University of Babylon, College of Engineering , Engineering Metallurgy , Maithem H-Rasheed

FIGURE - The unit cell for (a) austentite, (b) ferrite, and (c) martensite. The
effect of the percentage of carbon (by weight) on the lattice dimensions for
martensite is shown in (d). Note the interstitial position of the carbon atoms and
the increase in dimension c with increasing carbon content. Thus, the unit cell of
martensite is in the shape of a rectangular prism.

In their simplest form, steels are alloys of Iron (Fe) and Carbon (C).

University of Babylon, College of Engineering , Engineering Metallurgy , Maithem H-Rasheed

The diagram shows three horizontal lines which indicate isothermal reactions
(on cooling / heating process ):

1-First horizontal line is about at 1493 °C, where peritectic reaction takes place:
Liquid +  ↔ austenite

2-Second horizontal line is at about (1130°C to 1147C) , where eutectic reaction

takes place:
liquid ↔ austenite + cementite

3-Third horizontal line is at 723°C, where eutectoid reaction takes place:

austenite ↔ pearlite (mixture of ferrite & cementite)

Delta region of Fe-Fe carbide diagram

Liquid +  ↔ austenite

Phases in Iron Carbon Phase Diagram

1- α-ferrite
 interstitial solid solution of Carbon in BCC iron (Fe).
 Stable form of iron at room temperature to 912 C.
 The maximum solubility of Carbon is 0.022 wt% at 727°C .
 Transforms to FCC γ-austenite phase at 912 °C.
 it dissolves only 0.008 % C at room temperature..

University of Babylon, College of Engineering , Engineering Metallurgy , Maithem H-Rasheed

Properties it is ductile, highly magnetic and it has a low tensile strength of
approximately 2800 Kg/cm2. Its soft phase.
2- γ-austenite

 interstitial solid solution of Carbon in FCC Fe.

 The maximum solubility of Carbon is 2.14 wt % at 1147°C .
 Transforms to BCC δ-ferrite at 1395 °C.
 Is not stable below the eutectic temperature (727 ° C) unless cooled rapidly.
 It is stable above 727°C .
 This phase plays an important role in the phase transformations of steels.
 High formability, most of heat treatments begin with this single phase.
 It is normally not stable at room temperature. But, under certain conditions
it is possible to obtain austenite at room temperature.
 FCC structure
Properties it is generally soft, ductile, non- magnetic and it is denser than ferrite.
Summary of austenite transformations

1- Austenite…… slow cooling ………… Pearlite (α + Fe3C) .

2- Austenite…… moderate cooling……. Bainite (α + Fe3C).
3- Austenite ……rapid quenching………martensite (BCT phase).

3- δ-ferrite
 solid solution of Carbon in BCC Fe
 The same structure as α-ferrite.
 Stable only at high Temperature , above 1395 °C.
 Melts at 1539 °C.
 Maximum carbon solubility: 0.09-0.10 wt.%.
 BCC structure
 Paramagnetic

4- Cementite( Fe3C)
 This intermetallic compound is metastable,
 It is a product which contains 6.67% carbon and 93.33% iron by weight.
 It is found in steel containing over 0.8% carbon when it cools .
 The amount of cementite increase with increasing the percentage of carbon
in iron.
 is very hard, brittle intermetallic compound of iron & carbon , can
strengthen steels , with chemical formula Fe3C .
 as Fe3C, contains 6.67 % C.

University of Babylon, College of Engineering , Engineering Metallurgy , Maithem H-Rasheed

  It is the hardest structure that appears on the diagram, exact melting point
unknown.
 Its crystal structure is orthorhombic.
 It is has
o low tensile strength (approx. 5,000 psi), but
o high compressive strength.

5- Pearlite
 is a structure (i.e. consists of two phases) consists of alternate layers of
ferrite and cementite in the proportion 87:13 by weight.
 formed from austenite at eutectoid temperature (A1) 727°C upon slow
cooling.
 Pearlite is the eutectoid mixture containing 0.80 % C and is formed at
723°C on very slow cooling.
 It is a very fine plate like or lamellar mixture of ferrite and cementite.

Properties it is strong metal phase, may be cut reasonably well with cutting tool
and it has tensile strength of 8750 Kg/cm2.

6-Ledeburite
 is the eutectic mixture of austenite and cementite.
 It contains 4.3 percent Carbon and is formed at 1130°C.

7-Martensite –
 a super-saturated solid solution of carbon in ferrite.
 It is formed when steel is cooled so rapidly that the change from austenite
to pearlite is suppressed ( growth less).

Note :-

 Steel with 0.8% carbon is wholly pearlite phase only.

 steel contains less than 0.8% carbon containing ferrite + pearlite which is
hard.
 Steel contains more than 0.8% carbon and (pearlite + cementite).

Reactions in Iron Carbon Phase Diagram

There are Three Phase Reactions:-

1- Eutectoid reactions :

University of Babylon, College of Engineering , Engineering Metallurgy , Maithem H-Rasheed

0.76 wt% Carbon , at 727 °C

γ(0.76 wt% C) ↔ α (0.022 wt% C) + Fe3C

in Eutectoid reaction , the two-phase mixture (ferrite & cementite). They are
steels.

2- Eutectic reactions :

4.30 wt% Carbon , at 1147 °C

L ↔ γ + Fe3C
In Eutectic reaction , alloys called cast irons.

Eutectic and eutectoid reactions are very important in heat treatment of steels.

3- Peritectic
L+δ=γ
Peritectic reaction , at 1493 deg.C, with low wt% C alloys (almost no
engineering importance).

Development of Microstructure in Iron - Carbon alloys

Microstructure depends on composition (carbon content) and heat treatment.

In the discussion below we consider slow cooling in which equilibrium is
maintained.
1- Microstructure of eutectoid steel

0.76 wt%C, 727 °C

γ(0.76 wt% C) ↔ α (0.022 wt% C) + Fe3C

University of Babylon, College of Engineering , Engineering Metallurgy , Maithem H-Rasheed

Effect of Alloying Steel with more Elements:-

Teutectoid changes

Limitations of equilibrium phase diagram

 Fe-Fe3C equilibrium / metastable phase diagram.

 Stability of the phases under equilibrium condition only.
 It does not give any information about other metastable phases. i.e. bainite,
martensite.
 It does not indicate the possibilities of suppression (reduced ) of
proeutectoid phase separation.
 No information about kinetics energy.
 No information about size.
 No information on properties.

University of Babylon, College of Engineering , Engineering Metallurgy , Maithem H-Rasheed