THE IRON-IRON CARBIDE

EQUILIBRIUM DIAGRAM
(Fe-Fe3C)

The metal iron is primary constituent of some of the

most important engineering field.
Is an almost pure from ,is known as ingot iron.
It is used for drainage culverts , roofing, and ducts etc.
A typical analysis of ingot iron is ,
C
- 0.012%
Mn - 0.017 %
P
- 0.005 %
Su
0.025 %
Si
traces
Mechanical properties are ,
Tensile strength - 40,000 psi,
Elongation in 2 in.
- 40%,
Rockwell B hardness- 30.

 Iron is an allotropic metal, which means that it can exist in more then one
type of crystal structure like b.c.c. , f.c.c. Depending upon temperature.

About phases changes of iron

When iron first solidifies at 2800F it is in the bcc structure

& delta () form.
Upon further cooling , at 2554 F a phase change occurs
from bcc to f.c.c ( gamma iron )- nonmagnetic
When temperature reaches 1666 F another phase change
occurs from f.c.c to b.c.c (alpha iron ) nonmagnetic.
Finally at 1414 F the - iron comes magnetic without
changing crystal structure.
All the allotropic changes give off heat when iron is cooled
and absorb heat when iron is heated.

THE IRON-IRON CARBIDE DIAGRAM

Before we going to study this diagram , it is important for

the student to know this is not true equilibrium diagram .
Since equilibrium means no phase change of with time.
It is fact ,the compound of iron carbide will decompose into
iron and carbon(graphite).
This process will take long time to at room temperature and
even at
1300 F it takes several years to from graphite.
Iron carbide is called metastable phase.
The temperature at which the allotropic changes takes
place in iron is influenced by alloying elements.
This is the part between pure iron and an interstitial
compound ,iron carbide fe3c,containing 6.67 % C by
weight.

 This diagram gives details about pure iron, steels, cast iron. It is
depend up on the carbon content .
We already know that 0.0-2.0% of carbon in iron is called steel and 26.67% of carbon in iron is known as cast iron .
In this steel 0.0-0.8% C in iron called hypo eutectoid steel and 0.82.0% of C in iron called hyper eutectoid steel.
And also 2.0-4.3% of C in iron called hypoeutectic cast iron , 4.3-6.67
% of C in iron called hypereutectic cast iron .
Depend upon carbon and alloying elements steel is divided into plain
carbon steel ,low carbon steel , high carbon steel ,medium carbon
steel, tool steel, low alloy steel ,medium alloy steel ,high alloy steel.
In cast iron divided into grey cast iron ,white cast iron, malleable cast
iron, chilled cast iron, nodular cast iron, alloy cast iron.
Types of steel is depending on type furnace , type shapes, type of
extraction.

PHASES
Austenite:-it is an interstitial solid solution of carbon
dissolved in -(f.c.c) iron. Maximum solubility of C is 2% at
2065 F .
Cementite (or) iron carbide:- it is compound of iron and
carbon (fe3c) which contain carbon 6.67%.
Ledeburite:- it is the eutectic mixture of austenite and
cementite. It contains 4.3% of C , it forms at 2065 F .
Ferrite:- it is an interstitial solid solution of small amount of
carbon dissolved in -(b.c.c) iron. Maximum solubility of C
is 0.025% at 1333 F It dissolves only 0.008% at room
temperature.
Pearlite:- it is eutectoid mixture of ferrite and cementite. It
contain 0.80% of C and It formed at 1333 F .

1.
2.
3.

The diagram shows horizontal lines which indicates

isothermal reactions.
In this equilibrium diagram three isothermal reaction are
there.

peritectic reaction
eutectic reaction
Eutectiod reaction

Peritectic reaction
The equation of peritectic reaction is given below.
liquid+coolin

austenite

g
heatin
g at 2720 F (1493 C) and maximum solubility
This reaction is being

of carbon in b.c.c. -Fe is 0.10% (point M) . While f.c.c. gamma ()

iron solubility is much greater.
As C Is added to iron ,the temperature of the allotropic change
increase from 2554 to 2720 F at 0.10% C.
On cooling, NM represent the beginning of crystal structure change
from b.c.c - Fe to f.c.c. - Fe. C is less then 0.10%
The MP represent the beginning of crystal structure by means of
peritectic reaction for alloy between 0.10 to 0.18% C , for alloy the
end of the crystal structure is given by line NP
The PB represent the beginning and end of the crystal structure
change by means of this reaction . For alloys between 0.18-0.50 %
C The allotropic change begins and end at constant temperature.

Peritectic diagram

Eutectic reaction

The equation of peritectic reaction is given below.

coolin

liquid
g

heatin
g

austenite + cementite
ledeburit
e

This reaction is being at 2065 F .

The carbon percentage is 4.3%.
Whenever the an alloy crosses this line the reaction must
be take place.
In that reaction The liquid solidify into very fine intimate
mixture of the two phases that are at either end of the
horizontal.
The name of the phases are austenite and iron
carbide(cementite).this eutectic mixture has been given
name ledeburite.

Eutectoid reaction

The reaction is given below

coolin

austenite
g
heatin
g

ferrite + cementite
pearlit
e

This reaction is being at temperature 1333 F at C % is

0.80.
The austenite is transform into the fine eutectoid mixture
ferrite and cementite is called pearlite.

Microstructure

microstructure