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IRON CARBON SYSTEMS
Steels and cast irons are among the most extensively used range of engineering materials in the world today.
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Allotropic forms of pure iron • Iron is an allotropic metal i.e. it can exist in more than one type of the lattice structure depending upon temperature. • A study of cooling curve of pure iron shows that it can exist in more than one allotropic form. • Example: allotropic forms of Fe are α, γ , δ.
• The temperature at which the allotropic changes
take place in iron is influenced by alloying elements, the most important of which is carbon Cooling curve for pure iron Liquid 1538 δ Fe (BCC) Non-Magnetic 1340
γ Fe (FCC) Non-Magnetic Temperature, oC
910 α Fe (BCC)
768 Non-Magnetic
α Fe (BCC) Magnetic
Time Fig 5.1 Cooling curve for pure iron •All the allotropic changes give off heat (exothermic) when iron is cooled and absorb heat (endothermic) when iron is heated. THE IRON–IRON CARBIDE (Fe–Fe3C) PHASE DIAGRAM Iron – Iron carbide phase diagram Fe-C binary system The Delta Region The first horizontal line MB at 1495oC indicates the Peritectic reaction. This region is called as the delta region because of the solid solution δ. The point P is known as the peritectic point at 1495oC & 0.18%C. (b) The Eutectic Region
L+γ L + Fe3C 1148oC E γ 2%C D C 4.33C
γ +Fe3C Fe-C binary system: Eutectic Zone (c) The Eutectoid Reaction
912oC γ γ+Fe3C γ+α J 724oC K H α 0.8% C
α+Fe3C
The Eutectoid Region
Fe-C binary system: Eutectoid Zone Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, MIT, Manipal 21 of 3 Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, MIT, Manipal 22 of 3 Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, MIT, Manipal 23 of 3 Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, MIT, Manipal 24 of 3 Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, MIT, Manipal 25 of 3 Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, MIT, Manipal 26 of 3 Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, MIT, Manipal 27 of 3 Definition of structures Leduburite:- ❖ It is the eutectic mixture of austenite and cementite. ❖ It contains 4.3 % C and formed at 11300C ❖ It has got layered structure. ❖ It is brittle cannot be forged or rolled. ❖ It is found in cast iron region. ❖ It posses good lubricating property. Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, MIT, Manipal 29 of 3 Lever Rule Lever Rule Lever Rule
