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15 Heat Treatment
Objectives
• Metals and alloys are subjected to different kinds of heat
treatment processes to develop appropriate microstructure
with desired set of properties.
• carbon is said to be an
austenitizing element
The Iron-Carbon Equilibrium Diagram
• Phases present are molten
alloy, austenite (gamma
phase), ferrite (alpha phase),
cementite, and graphite
• carbon is said to be an
austenitizing element
The Iron-Carbon Equilibrium Diagram
• The iron-carbon diagram should be considered only a guide
– Alloying elements: The effects of alloying elements on
phase diagram
– Nonequilibrium structures : some heat treatments are
specifically intended to produce nonequilibrium structures
– Metastable Phases : It does not give any information
about other metastable phases. i.e. bainite, martensite
– Many heat treatments barely approach equilibrium
– No information about kinetics, grain size, and properties
δ ferrite
• Interstitial solid solution of carbon in iron of body centred
cubic crystal structure (Fig .2(a)) (δ iron ) of higher lattice
parameter (2.89Å) having solubility limit of 0.09 wt% at
1495°C with respect to austenite. The stability of the phase
ranges between 1394-1539°C.
γ phase (austenite)
• Interstitial solid solution of carbon in iron of face centred
cubic crystal structure having solubility limit of 2.11 wt% at
1147°C with respect to cementite. The stability of the phase
ranges between 727-1495°C and solubility ranges 0-0.77
wt%C with respect to alpha ferrite and 0.77-2.11 wt% C with
respect to cementite, at 0 wt%C the stability ranges from 910-
1394°C.
α-ferrite
• Interstitial solid solution of carbon in iron of body centred
cubic crystal structure (α iron) having solubility limit of 0.0218
wt % C at 727°C with respect to austenite.
• Eutectic reaction
Liquid↔Solid1+Solid2
Liquid (4.3wt%C) ↔ γ(2.11wt%C) + Fe3C (6.67wt%C) at 1147˚C
Liquid-100 wt% →51.97wt% γ +Fe3C (48.11wt%)
The phase mixture of austenite and cementite formed at
eutectic temperature is called ledeburite
Eutectoid Reaction
• Eutectoid Reaction
Solid1↔Solid2+Solid3
γ(0.77wt%C) ↔ α(0.0218wt%C) + Fe3C(6.67wt%C) at 727°C
γ (100 wt%) →α(89 wt% ) +Fe3C(11wt%)
• Typical density
α ferrite=7.87 gcm-3
Fe3C=7.7 gcm-3
volume ratio of α- ferrite:Fe3C=7.9:1
Development of Microstructure in Iron–Carbon Alloys
Photomicrograph of a eutectoid
steel showing the pearlite
microstructure consisting of
alternating layers of -ferrite (the
light phase) and Fe3C (thin layers
most of which appear
dark).
Fig.1: Fe-Cementite metastable phase diagram (microstructural)
L=liquid, Cm=cementite, LB=ledeburite, δ=delta ferrite, α=
1539˚C δ+L L alpha ferrite, α’= alpha ferrite(0.00005 wt%C) γ=austenite,
δ A5=1495˚C P=pearlite, eu=eutectic, ed=eutectoid, I=primary,
0.09 0.53 II=secondary, III=tertiary
δ+γ 0.17 1227˚C
1394˚C
L+γI 4.30 L+CmI
γ γI+LB LB+CmI A4=1147˚C
Temperature, °C
2.11
LB’ (γeu(γII
γI’(γII+CmII)+LB’ (γ’eu(γII
+CmII)+Cmeu)
+CmII)+Cmeu)
+CmI
A B C
Ledeburite=LB(γeu+Ceu)
910˚C D E F
A2 A3
=668/ Cm
770˚C 0.77
αI+γ γII+CmII
0.0218 A1=727˚C
α αI+ (P(αed P(αed+Cmed) (P(αed+Cmed)+CmII)+ LB’ (P(αed+Cmed) LB’ (P(αed+Cmed)
Pearlite
Andrews
Grange
Effect on Eutectoid temperature
• Elements like Ni, Mn i.e., the austenite stabilizers lower the eutectoid
temperature (727°C). Ferrite stabilizers like Cr, V, W etc. raise the eutectoid
temperature.
Effect on Eutectoid composition
• All the elements lower the eutectoid carbon content. Titanium and
molybdenum are the most effective in lowering it.
• For example, a steel with 5% Cr has its eutectoid point at 0.5%C as
compared to 0.8% in carbon steels. High speed steel has eutectoid point at
0.25% carbon.
Phase Transformations: Morphology
(a) Grain boundary allotrimorphs
(d) Idiomorphs
• Effect of undercooling
• Effect of temperature on
diffusivity
• Hence, in terms of practical utility TTT curves have a limitation and we need to
draw separate diagrams called Continuous Cooling Transformation diagrams
(CCT), wherein transformation times (also: products & microstructure) are
noted using constant rate cooling treatments.
• The cooling rate may or may not be constant. The rate of cooling may be slow
(as in a furnace which has been switch off) or rapid (like quenching in water).