ME201 Material Science &

Engineering
Phase diagrams

Alfaisal University
What will you learn in this lecture?
On completion of this lecture, students should be able to:

 Describe and explain binary alloys, their cooling curves and the
binary isomorphous phase diagrams
 Determine the number of phases, types of phases and their
compositions from binary isomorphous phase diagrams

2
 Binary isomorphous phase diagrams
Constant Pressure!
Liquid Solution
L Two phases:
a) L (liquid)
Temperature

Two Phase
b)  (solid solution)
L+
Three phase fields:
Solid Solution
a) L (liquid)
 b) L + 
c)  (solid solution)
X Y
% Y added

 Greek symbols α (alpha), β (beta), γ (gamma), δ (delta), etc. are

often used to represent the solid solutions

3
 Binary isomorphous phase diagrams
Phase diagram tell us about phases as function of Temperature T; Composition Co;
and Pressure P ((Pressure P is normally held constant, i.e. independent variables
are Temperature T and Composition Co)

L
Liquidus

L+  Liquidus line separates

Temperature

Freezing liquid from liquid +

Range solid
Solidus  Solidus line separates
solid from liquid + solid


X Y
% Y added

4
 Binary isomorphous phase diagrams

Isopleth L
Liquid

Temperature
Temperature

L+

Two Phase

 Solid

X Y
%Y
added Time

5
 Cu-Ni Phase Diagram
Example: Cu-Ni is a binary isomorphous system with the following
phase diagram:

Cu-Ni phase diagram

T(°C)
1600 • 2 phases:
L (liquid)
1500 L (liquid)  (FCC solid solution)
1400 • 3 phase fields:
dus L
ui 
1300 li q + s L +
L lidu
so 
1200 
1100
(FCC solid
solution)
1000
0 20 40 60 80 100 wt% Ni

6
 Cu-Ni Phase Diagram
 The liquid L is a homogeneous Cu-Ni phase diagram
liquid solution of both copper and
nickel
 The  phase is a substitutional
solid solution consisting of both
copper and nickel atoms, and
having a FCC crystal structure
 Below 10850C there is complete
solubility between copper and
nickel (Melting temperatures for
pure nickel is 10850 C and for
pure copper is 14530 C)

7
 Phases present
Rule 1: If we know temperature T and composition Co, then we know:
 the types of phases present

• Example:
L
At point A where
T1 A
temperature = T1,
Temperature
and C0 = C1 %Y: L+
T2 B
2 phases: L + 

At point B where

temperature = T2,
and C0 = C2 %Y:
X C2 Y
1 phase:  % Y added C1

8
 Example 4
Determine the number and type of phases
for the Cu-Ni system at
 Point A where temperature T=11000C and Cu-Ni phase diagram
composition Co=50 wt% Ni
 Point B where temperature T=12500C and
composition Co=35 wt% Ni

Point A (T=1100°, C0=50 wt% Ni):

1 phase: 
Point B (T=1250°, C0=35 wt% Ni):
2 phases: L + 

9
 Tie Line
Tie line – connects the phases in equilibrium with each other -
essentially an isotherm

Isopleth L

L+
A Tie Line
Temperature

B


X Y
% Y added

10
 Phase compositions
If we know temperature T and composition Co, then we know:
 the phase compositions in terms of the components
• Example:
At point A where A
T1
temperature = T1,
L L+
and C0 = C1 %Y: Temperature
Only L liquid phase
present with
composition CL= C1 %Y


X C1 Y
% Y added

11
 Composition of Phases
Rule 2: If we know temperature T and composition Co, then we know:
 the phase compositions in terms of the components
• Example:
At point B where A
T1
temperature = T2,
L L+
and C0 = C1 %Y: Temperature
T2 B
Two phases: L + 

L phase composition
= CL %Y

 phase composition
= C %Y X Y
CL C1 C
% Y added

12
 Composition of Phases
Rule 2: If we know temperature T and composition Co, then we know:
 the phase compositions in terms of the components
• Example:
At point D where A
T1
temperature = T3,
L L+
and C0 = C1 %Y: Temperature
Only  phase with
composition C0= C1 %Y

D 
T3

X C1 Y
% Y added

13
 Example 5a
Determine the phase compositions for the Cu-Ni system (composition
Co= 35 wt% Ni) at
 Point A where temperature T=13200C
 Point D where temperature T=11900C
Cu-Ni phase diagram
T(°C)
C0=35 wt% Ni A
TA
In
AtaTsingle phase
A=1320 C
0 region, alloy
u idus
composition and phase 1300 L liq
Only Liquid 
composition are the(L)
same. L +
u s
•Co = Phase
35% Ni composition id
CL=C sol
•CS, 1190 0
C 0= =35 wt% Ni)
35% Ni 
AtL,T1320
•C D=1190 C
0
C = 35%
0 Ni
1200 L+ 
TD D
Only Solid ()
Phase composition 20 30 35 40 50
C=C0 =35 wt% Ni) C0 wt% Ni

14
 Example 5b
Determine the phase compositions for the Cu-Ni system (composition
Co= 35 wt% Ni) at
 Point B where temperature T=12500C
Cu-Ni phase diagram
T(°C)
A
tie line
1300 L

B L+ s
TB us ol idu
id s
liqu 
C0=35 wt% Ni
1200 L+ 
At TB=1250 C both L and :
0 D
L phase composition: CL= 32 wt% Ni)
20 30 35 40 50
 Phase compoistion: C= 43 wt% Ni) 32 C0 43 wt% Ni
CL C
15
 Phase and Microstructure
Consider the micro-structural T(°C)
changes of cooling liquid Cu- L (liquid) L: 35wt%Ni
Ni at C0 = 35 wt% Ni
1300 A + a
L: 35 wt% Ni L
• From liquid at A, solid grains a: 46 wt% Ni 35 B 46
32 C 43
start to nucleate at B
• Phase compositions and 24 D35 L: 32 wt% Ni
amounts of L and  1200 + a a: 43 wt% Ni
L E
between points B and D L: 24 wt% Ni
a: 35 wt% Ni
vary and can be found from a
the tie-lines (solid)
• All solid  at point E
• Microstructure given here is 1100
20 30 35 40 50
based on equilibrium C0 wt% Ni
cooling
16
 Phase and Microstructure
The micro-structural changes for Cu-Ni liquid with C0=40 wt% Ni as it
is cooled from 13000C to room temperature:

Cu-Ni phase diagram

T(°C)
40 % Ni L
A
45% Ni 1300 
All Liquid L +
52% Ni d us
ui dus so l i
liq 
L + 
Almost 40% 1200
Ni
20 30 40 50
C0 wt% Ni
17
 The Lever Rule
Let WL= weight fraction of liquid with composition CL %Y
W = weight fraction of  with composition C %Y

Isopleth Sum of weight fractions:

L
WL  W  1

L+ Conservation of mass:

Temperature

WL C L  W C   C 0
B
 Combine above equations:
WL C L  1  WL  C   C 0
WL C L  C   WL C   C 0
X CL C0 C Y WL  C L  C    C 0  C 
% Y added

18
 The Lever Rule
Let WL= weight fraction of liquid with composition CL %Y
W = weight fraction of  with composition C %Y
C  C0
Isopleth L WL 
C  CL

L+
Similarly, we can derive:
Temperature

B 1  W  C L  W C  C0

C L  W C L  W C   C 0
W  C   C L   C 0  C L
C0  CL
X CL C0 C Y W 
C  CL
% Y added

19
 The Lever Rule
How much of each phase in the L+ region? ML M
Think of it as a lever: M   S  M L  R

Isopleth L
R S
L+ Weight fraction:
Temperature

Cα  C0 S
WL  
B Cα  CL R  S
S 
R C  CL R
Wα  0 
Cα  CL R  S

Weight percentage:
X C0 Y WL 100  WL %
CL C
% Y added Wα 100  Wα %

20
 Weight percentage of Phases
Rule 3: If we know temperature T and composition Co, then we know:
 the phase amount in %
• Example:
At point A where A
T1
temperature = T1,
L L+
and C0 = C1 %Y: Temperature
Only Liquid L is present
L phase amount
WL%= 100 % and
 phase amount 
W%= 0 %
X C1 Y
% Y added

21
 Weight percentage of Phases
Rule 3: If we know temperature T and composition Co, then we know:
 the phase amount in %
• Example:
At point B where A
T1
temperature = T2,
L L+
and C0 = C1 %Y: Temperature B
T2
Both L +  are present R S
For L phase amount:
WL%= 100S/(S+R) %

For  phase amount:
W%= 100R/(S+R) % X Y
C1
% Y added

22
 Weight percentage of Phases
Rule 3: If we know temperature T and composition Co, then we know:
 the phase amount in %
• Example:
At point D where A
T1
temperature = T3,
L L+
and C0 = C1 %Y: Temperature
Only  is present
 phase amount
W%= 100 %
and L phase amount D 
T3
WL%= 0 %
X C1 Y
% Y added

23
 Example 1a
Determine the phase amount in % for the Cu-Ni system
(composition Co= 35 wt% Ni) at
 Point A where temperature TA=13200C
 Point D where temperature TD=11900C Cu-Ni phase diagram
T(°C)
TA A
C0=35 wt% Ni 1300 L
+ 
At TA=13200C, only Liquid (L) L
d us
L phase amount is ui dus so l i
WL%=100%, W%=0 liq 
L + 
At TD=11900C, only Solid () 1200
TD D
 phase amount is
WL%=0, W%=100% 20 30 35 40 50
C0
wt% Ni
24
 Example 1b
Determine the amount of phase in wt% for the Cu-Ni system
(composition Co= 35 wt% Ni) at
 Point B where temperature TB=12500C
Cu-Ni phase diagram
T(°C)
C0=35 wt% Ni A tie line
At TB=12500C, 2 phases  and L
1300 L
100S 43  35 + 
WL %   100%  73% B L
R  S 43  32 d us
TB
u idus R S so l i
liq 
100R 35  32 L + 
Wα %   100%  27% 1200
R  S 43  32

WL %  Wα %  100% 20 30 35 40 50
32 C0 43
CL C wt% Ni
25
 Mechanical Properties: Cu-Ni System
• Effect of solid solution strengthening
 Example: Design of a Melting Procedure for a
Casting
You need to produce a Cu-Ni alloy having minimum yield strength
of 20,000 psi, a minimum tensile strength of 60,000 psi, and a
minimum % elongation of 20%. You have in your inventory a Cu-
20% Ni alloy and pure nickel. Design a method for producing
castings having the required properties.
©2003 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson
Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.

Figure 9.15 The mechanical properties of

copper-nickel alloys. Copper is
strengthened by up to 60% Ni and nickel
is strengthened by up to 40% Cu.

27
Example SOLUTION
From Figure 9.15, we determine the required composition of
the alloy. To satisfy all of these conditions, we could use:
Cu-90% Ni or Cu-33% to 60% Ni
We prefer to select a low nickel content, since nickel is more
expensive than copper. In addition, the lower nickel alloys
have a lower liquidus, permitting castings to be made with
less energy being expended. Therefore, a reasonable alloy
might be Cu-35% Ni.

28
Example SOLUTION (Continued)
To produce this composition from the available melting stock, we
must blend some of the pure nickel with the Cu-20% Ni ingot.
Assume we wish to produce 10 kg of the alloy. Let x be the mass of
Cu-20% Ni alloy we will need. The mass of pure Ni needed will be
10 - x.
Since the final alloy consists of 35% Ni, the total mass of Ni needed
will be:
(10 Kg)( 35% Ni / 100%) = 3.5 Kg Ni
Now let’s write a mass balance for nickel. Nickel from the Cu-20%
alloy + pure nickel added = total nickel in the 35% alloy being
produced.
0.2x + 10 - x = 3.5
6.5 = 0.8x
x = 8.125 kg

29
 Volume fraction
For an alloy consisting of solid  and  phases, let:
V = volume fraction of  phase, V = volume fraction of  phase
W = weight fraction of  phase, W = weight fraction of  phase
 = density of  phase, and  = density of  phase

Wα ρ α Vα ρ α
Vα  Wα 
( Wα ρ α )  ( Wβ ρβ ) Vαρ α  Vβ ρβ

Wβ ρβ Vβ ρβ
Vβ  Wβ 
( Wα ρ α )  ( Wβ ρβ ) Vαρ α  Vβ ρβ

Vα  Vβ  1 Wα  Wβ  1

30
Review Quiz
Question: A copper-nickel
alloy of composition 70 wt%
Ni-30 wt% Cu is slowly
heated from a temperature of
1300°C.
(a) At what temperature does 1380°C
the first liquid phase form? 1350°C
(b) What is the composition of
this liquid phase?
(c) At what temperature does
complete melting of the alloy
occur?
(d) What is the composition of
the last solid remaining prior
to complete melting?

78 wt% Ni
59 wt%Ni
Review quiz of previous lecture
Alloy with 40 % A and 60 %B at room temperature is heated to a
temperature T1. Determine the number and types of phases
present. Indicate the composition of each phase

Liquid composition:
70% A and 30 % B

Solid composition:
10 % A and 90 % B

32
Review quiz of previous lecture
 Explain the meaning of isomorphous, miscible, solvent and
solute using a liquid solution as an example

A liquid solution is single phase with more than one component:

 Solvent: the element or compound that is present in the greatest
amount
 Solute: an element or compound present in minor concentration
 Isomorphous: system is isomorphous if there is complete
solubility (i.e. fully miscible) of one component in another (e.g.
alcohol in water)
 Another example is salt and water. Water is the solvent and salt is
the solute (the solubility is limited)

33