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Iron-Carbon System
Phases present
Reactions
Peritectic L + d g L
a ferrite
at 1493 oC and 0.18 wt% C d Bcc structure
Bcc structure Ferromagnetic
Eutectic L g + Fe3C Paramagnetic Fairly ductile
at 1147 oC and 4.3 wt% C
g austenite Fe3C cementite
Eutectoid g a + Fe3C Fcc structure Orthorhombic
Non-magnetic Hard
at 727 oC and 0.76 wt% C
ductile brittle
PHASE COMPOSITIONS OF THE IRON-CARBON
ALLOYS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
Fe3C (cementite)
g a + Fe3C 1000 g g
g g g +Fe3C
800
a B 727C = Teutectoid
600
a+Fe3C
400
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
(Fe) 0.76 4.30 C, wt% C
120 mm
Result: Pearlite = Fe3C (cementite-hard)
alternating layers of
a and Fe3C phases, a (ferrite-soft)
13
not a separate phase.
Eutectoid reaction:
g a + Fe3C
Pearlite
Schematic illustration
of the microstructures
for an iron-carbon
alloy of eutectoid
composition (0.76%
carbon) above and
below the eutectoid
temperature of 727C.
Microstructure of Steel Formed from Eutectoid Composition
Fe3C (cementite)
(austenite)
g g 1000
g g g + Fe3C
a 800
ag g 727C
a
g g a
600
a + Fe3C
400
a 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
(Fe)C0
0.76
C, wt% C
pearlite
Hypoeutectoid
100 mm
steel
Fe3C (cementite)
ag g (austenite)
a
g g
1000
g + Fe3C
Wa = s/(r + s)
800 727C
Wg =(1 - Wa) r s
aRS
a 600
a + Fe3C
pearlite
400
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
(Fe)C0
0.76
C, wt% C
Wpearlite = Wg
Wa = S/(R + S) 100 mm
Hypoeutectoid
steel
WFe3C =(1 Wa)
pearlite proeutectoid ferrite
Hypereutectoid Steel
T(C)
1600
d
1400 L (Fe-C
g g g g +L System)
1200 1148C L+Fe3C
g
Fe3C (cementite)
g (austenite)
g g 1000
g g g +Fe3C
Fe3C
g g 800
g g a
600
a +Fe3C
400
0 1 C0 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
0.76
(Fe) C, wt%C
pearlite
60 mmHypereutectoid
steel
pearlite proeutectoid Fe3C
Hypereutectoid Steel
T(C)
1600
d
1400 L (Fe-C
g g +L System)
Fe3C 1200
g g 1148C L+Fe3C
Fe3C (cementite)
(austenite)
g g 1000
g +Fe3C
Wg =x/(v + x)
800 v x
WFe3C =(1-Wg)
a V X
600
a +Fe3C
pearlite
400
0 1 C0 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
0.76
(Fe) C, wt%C
Wpearlite = Wg
Wa = X/(V + X)
60 mmHypereutectoid
WFe =(1 - Wa) steel
3C
pearlite proeutectoid Fe3C
Unit Cells
The unit cells for (a) austenite, (b) ferrite, and (c) martensite. The
effect of percentage of carbon (by weight) on the lattice
dimensions for martensite is shown in (d). Note the interstitial
position of the carbon atoms. Also note, the increase in
dimension c with increasing carbon content: this effect causes the
unit cell of martensite to be in the shape of a rectangular prism.