Iron-carbon phase diagram

Iron-carbon phase diagram describes the iron-carbon system of alloys containing up

to 6.67% of carbon, discloses the phasescompositions and their transformations
occurring with the alloys during their cooling or heating.
Carbon content 6.67% corresponds to the fixed composition of the iron carbide Fe3C.
The diagram is presented in the picture:

The following phases are involved in the transformation, occurring with iron-carbon
alloys:

L - Liquid solution of carbon in iron;

-ferrite Solid solution of carbon in iron.

Maximum concentration of carbon in -ferrite

temperature of the peritectic transformation.

is

0.09%

at

2719

(1493C)

The crystal structure of -ferrite is BCC (cubic body centered).

Austenite interstitial solid solution of carbon in -iron.

Austenite has FCC (cubic face centered) crystal

solubility of carbon up to 2.06% at 2097 F (1147 C).

structure,

permitting

high

Austenite does not exist below 1333 F (723C) and maximum carbon concentration at
this temperature is 0.83%.

-ferrite solid solution of carbon in -iron.

-ferrite has BCC crystal structure and low solubility of carbon up to 0.025% at 1333
F (723C).
-ferrite exists at room temperature.

Cementite iron carbide, intermetallic compound, having fixed composition

Fe3C.

Cementite is a hard and brittle substance, influencing on the properties of steels and cast
irons.
The following phase transformations occur with iron-carbon alloys:
Alloys,
containing
up
to
0.51% of carbon,
start solidification with
formation of crystals of -ferrite. Carbon content in -ferrite increases up to 0.09% in
course solidification, and at 2719 F (1493C) remaining liquid phase and -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% of carbon, are called steels.
Alloys, containing from 2.06 to 6.67% of carbon, experience eutectic transformation at
2097 F (1147 C). The eutectic concentration ofcarbon is 4.3%.
In practice only hypoeutectic alloys are used. These alloys (carbon content from 2.06%
to 4.3%) are called cast irons. When temperatureof an alloy from this range reaches
2097 F (1147 C), 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 1333
F (723C). The eutectoid concentration of carbon is 0.83%.

When the temperature of an alloy reaches 1333 F (733C), austenite transforms

to pearlite (fine
ferrite-cementite
structure,
forming
as
a
result of decomposition of austenite at slow cooling conditions).

Critical temperatures

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-topearlite eutectoid transformation. Below this temperature austenite does not exist.

Magnetic transformation temperature A2 is the temperature below which ferrite is ferromagnetic.

Phase
compositions of the
room temperature

iron-carbon

alloys

at

Hypo eutectoid 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 A CM , pearlite and

transformed ledeburite (ledeburite in which austenite transformed to pearlite).

Heat treatment

Iron-carbon phase diagram, showing the temperature and carbon ranges for certain types of heat treatments.

Main article: Heat treatment

The purpose of heat treating carbon steel is to change the mechanical properties of steel, usually
ductility, hardness, yield strength, or impact resistance. Note that the electrical and thermal
conductivity are slightly altered. As with most strengthening techniques for steel, Young's modulus is
unaffected. Steel has a higher solid solubility for carbon in the austenite phase; therefore all heat
treatments, except spheroidizing and process annealing, start by heating to an austenitic phase. The
rate at which the steel is cooled through the eutectoid reaction affects the rate at which carbon
diffuses out of austenite. Generally speaking, cooling swiftly will give a finer pearlite (until
the martensite critical temperature is reached) and cooling slowly will give a coarser pearlite. Cooling
a hypoeutectoid (less than 0.77 wt% C) steel results in a pearlitic structure with -ferrite at the grain
boundaries. If it is hypereutectoid (more than 0.77 wt% C) steel then the structure is full pearlite with
small grains of cementite scattered throughout. The relative amounts of constituents are found using
the lever rule. Here is a list of the types of heat treatments possible:

Spheroidizing: Spheroidite forms when carbon steel is heated to approximately 700 C for
over 30 hours. Spheroidite can form at lower temperatures but the time needed drastically
increases, as this is a diffusion-controlled process. The result is a structure of rods or spheres of
cementite within primary structure (ferrite or pearlite, depending on which side of the eutectoid
you are on). The purpose is to soften higher carbon steels and allow more formability. This is the
softest and most ductile form of steel. The image to the right shows where spheroidizing usually
occurs.[11]

Full annealing: Carbon steel is heated to approximately 40 C above Ac 3 or Ac1 for 1 hour;
this assures all the ferrite transforms into austenite (although cementite might still exist if the
carbon content is greater than the eutectoid). The steel must then be cooled slowly, in the realm
of 20C (68.4F) per hour. Usually it is just furnace cooled, where the furnace is turned off with
the steel still inside. This results in a coarse pearlitic structure, which means the "bands"
of pearlite are thick. Fully annealed steel is soft and ductile, with no internal stresses, which is
often necessary for cost-effective forming. Only spheroidized steel is softer and more ductile. [12]

Process annealing: A process used to relieve stress in a cold-worked carbon steel with less
than 0.3 wt% C. The steel is usually heated up to 550650 C for 1 hour, but sometimes
temperatures as high as 700 C. The image rightward shows the area where process annealing
occurs.

Isothermal annealing: It is a process in which hypoeutectoid steel is heated above the upper
critical temperature and this temperature is maintained for a time and then the temperature is
brought down below lower critical temperature and is again maintained. Then finally it is cooled at
room temperature. This method rids any temperature gradient.

Normalizing: Carbon steel is heated to approximately 55 C above Ac 3 or Acm for 1 hour; this
assures the steel completely transforms to austenite. The steel is then air-cooled, which is a
cooling rate of approximately 38 C (100.4 F) per minute. This results in a fine pearlitic structure,
and a more-uniform structure. Normalized steel has a higher strength than annealed steel; it has
a relatively high strength and ductility.[13]

Quenching: Carbon steel with at least 0.4 wt% C is heated to normalizing temperatures and
then rapidly cooled (quenched) in water, brine, or oil to the critical temperature. The critical
temperature is dependent on the carbon content, but as a general rule is lower as the carbon
content increases. This results in a martensitic structure; a form of steel that possesses a supersaturated carbon content in a deformed body-centered cubic (BCC) crystalline structure, properly
termed body-centered tetragonal (BCT), with much internal stress. Thus quenched steel is
extremely hard but brittle, usually too brittle for practical purposes. These internal stresses cause
stress cracks on the surface. Quenched steel is approximately three to four (with more carbon)
fold harder than normalized steel.[14]

Martempering (Marquenching): Martempering is not actually a tempering procedure, hence

the term "marquenching". It is a form of isothermal heat treatment applied after an initial quench
of typically in a molten salt bath at a temperature right above the "martensite start temperature".
At this temperature, residual stresses within the material are relieved and some bainite may be
formed from the retained austenite which did not have time to transform into anything else. In
industry, this is a process used to control the ductility and hardness of a material. With longer
marquenching, the ductility increases with a minimal loss in strength; the steel is held in this
solution until the inner and outer temperatures equalize. Then the steel is cooled at a moderate
speed to keep the temperature gradient minimal. Not only does this process reduce internal
stresses and stress cracks, but it also increases the impact resistance. [15]

Quench and tempering: This is the most common heat treatment encountered, because the
final properties can be precisely determined by the temperature and time of the tempering.
Tempering involves reheating quenched steel to a temperature below the eutectoid temperature
then cooling. The elevated temperature allows very small amounts of spheroidite to form, which
restores ductility, but reduces hardness. Actual temperatures and times are carefully chosen for
each composition.[16]

Austempering: The austempering process is the same as martempering, except the steel is
held in the molten salt bath through the bainite transformation temperatures, and then moderately
cooled. The resulting bainite steel has a greater ductility, higher impact resistance, and less
distortion. The disadvantage of austempering is it can only be used on a few steels, and it
requires a special salt bath.[17]

Iron carbon diagram

What is iron carbon diagram?

A diagram based on the different percentages of carbon and iron. It

shows the different grain structure in the materials created and different
melting and "mushy" stages of the material at certain temperatures.
The metastable iron-carbon phase diagram, however, is used when
studying the microstructures of steels (both carbon steels and alloy
steels), as well as various heat treatments. Here is a detailed description
of the metastable iron-carbon phase diagram:
Types of iron carbon diagram:
There are two iron-carbon equilibrium diagrams:
1. stable iron-graphite Fe-Gr
2. metastable iron-cementite Fe-Fe3C
The stable condition usually takes a very long time to develop. The
metastable diagram is of more interest. Fe3C iron carbide called
cementite because it is hard.

Following phases exist on Fe-Fe3C diagram:

liquid solution of iron and carbon (L)
ferrite () an interstitial solid solution of carbon in Fe (bcc). At room
temperature ferrite is ductile but not very strong.
austenite - an interstitial solid solution of carbon in Fe (fcc).
cementite (Fe3C) hard and brittle compound with chemical formula Fe 3C.
It has metallic properties.
On a base of Fe-Fe3C diagram we can divide iron-carbon alloys into:
- steels,
- cast steels,
- cast irons.
Steel is an alloy of carbon and iron and other alloying elements
(e.g. Mn, Si) with carbon content up to 2% intended for wrought products
or semi products.

Cast iron is an alloy of carbon and iron and other alloying elements
(e.g. Mn, Si) with carbon content over 2% intended for castings.
Now, we consider only a part of Fe-Fe3C diagram referring to steel.
Perlite is a structure (i.e. consists of two phases) consists of
alternate layers of ferrite and cementite in the proportion 87:13 by
weight. Perlite is formed from austenite at eutectoid temperature (A 1)
727C upon slow cooling.
There are three groups of steels according to carbon content:
- hypoeutectoid steels containing less than 0.76% C
- eutectoid steel with carbon content about 0.76%
- hypereutectoid steels contain more than 0.76% C (up to 2% C)

Description of iron carbon diagram:

Iron-carbon phase diagramdescribes the iron-carbon system of alloys
containing up to 6.67% of carbon, discloses the phases compositions
and their transformations occurring with the alloys during their cooling or
heating.
Carbon content 6.67% corresponds to the fixed composition of the iron
carbide Fe3C.
The diagram is presented in the picture:
The following phases are involved in the transformation, occurring with
iron-carbon alloys:
L - Liquid solution of carbon in iron;
-ferrite Solid solution of carbon in iron.
Maximum concentration of carbon in -ferrite is 0.09% at 2719 F
(1493C) temperature of the peritectic transformation.
The crystal structure of -ferrite is BCC (cubic body centered).
Austenite interstitial solid solution of carbon in -iron.
Austenite has FCC (cubic face centered) crystal structure, permitting
high solubility of carbon up to 2.06% at 2097 F (1147 C).
Austenite does not exist below 1333 F (733C) and maximum carbon
concentration at this temperature is 0.83%.
-ferrite solid solution of carbon in -iron.
-ferrite has BCC crystal structure and low solubility of carbon up to
0.25% at 1333 F (733C).
-ferrite exists at room temperature.
Cementite iron carbide, intermetallic compound, having fixed
composition Fe3C.
Cementite is a hard and brittle substance, influencing on the properties
of steels and cast irons.
The following phase transformations occur with iron-carbon alloys:
Alloys, containing up to 0.51% of carbon, start solidification with
formation of crystals of -ferrite. Carbon content in -ferrite increases up

to 0.09% in course solidification, and at 2719 F (1493C) remaining

liquid phase and -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% of carbon, are called steels.
Alloys, containing from 2.06 to 6.67% of carbon, experience eutectic
transformation at 2097 F (1147 C). 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 irons. When temperature
of an alloy from this range reaches 2097 F (1147 C), 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 1333 F (733C). The eutectoid concentration of
carbon is 0.83%.
When the temperature of an alloy reaches 1333 F (733C), austenite
transforms to pearlite (fine ferrite-cementite structure, forming as a result
of decomposition of austenite at slow cooling conditions).
Critical temperatures

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 ofthe
austenite-to-pearlite eutectoid transformation. Below this temperature
austenite does not exist.
Magnetic transformation temperature A2 is the temperature below
which -ferrite is ferromagnetic.
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).
References:
www.msm.cam.ac.uk
www.rmutphysics.com
media-2.web.britannica.com
www.calphad.com
www.georgesbasement.com
What Is Iron-Carbon Equilibrium Diagram?
The iron-carbon equilibrium diagram in Figure below shows that, under equilibrium conditions (slow
cooling) if not more than 2.0% carbon is present, a solid solution of carbon in gamma iron exists at
elevated temperatures.

This is called austenite. If the carbon content is less than 0.8%, cooling below the A3 temperature
line causes transformation of some of the austenite to ferrite, which is substantially pure alpha iron
(containing less than 0.01% carbon in solution).
Still further cooling to below the A1 line causes the remaining austenite to transform to pearlite
the eutectoid mixture of fine plates, or lamellas, of ferrite and cementite (iron carbide)
whose iridescent appearance under the microscope gives it its name.
If the carbon content is 0.8%, no transformation on cooling the austenite occurs until the A1
temperature is reached.
At that point, all the austenite transforms to pearlite, with its typical thumbprint
microstructure.
At carbon contents between 0.80 and 2.0%, cooling below the Acm temperature line causes iron
carbide, or cementite, to form in the temperature range between Acm and A1,3. Below A1,3, the
remaining austenite transforms to pearlite.