Interpreting Phase Diagrams

TERNARY PHASE DIAGRAMS
An Introduction Guna Selvaduray San Jose State University
Credit for Phase Diagram Drawings: Richard Brindos Credit for scanning the phase diagrams: Brenden Croom
G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004
Utility of Ternary Phase Diagrams

Glass compositions Refractories Aluminum alloys Stainless steels Solder metallurgy Several other applications
References on Ternary Phase Diagrams

A. Prince, Alloy Phase Equilibria, Elsevier Publishing Company, New York, 1966 D. R. F. West, Ternary Equilibrium Diagrams, Chapman and Hall, New York, 1982 G. Masing, Ternary Systems, Reinhold Publishing Company, New York, 1944 C. G. Bergeron and S. H. Risbud, Introduction to Phase Equilibria in Ceramics, The American Ceramic Society, Ohio, 1984 M. F. Berard and D. R. Wilder, Fundamentals of Phase Equilibria in Ceramic Systems, R.A.N. Publishers, Ohio, 1990 F. N. Rhines, Phase Diagrams in Metallurgy, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1956 A. Reisman, Phase Equilibria, Academic Press, 1970
What are Ternary Phase Diagrams?
Diagrams that represent the equilibrium between the various phases that are formed between three components, as a function of temperature. Normally, pressure is not a viable variable in ternary phase diagram construction, and is therefore held constant at 1 atm.
The Gibbs Phase Rule for 3-Component Systems

F=C+2-P For isobaric systems: F=C+1-P For C = 3, the maximum number of phases will co-exist when F = 0 P = 4 when C = 3 and F = 0 Components are independent components
Some Important Terms

Overall composition Number of phases Chemical composition of individual phases Amount of each phase Solidification sequence
Overall Composition - 1
The concentration of each of the three components Can be expressed as either wt. % or molar % Sum of the concentration of the three components must add up to 100% The Gibbs Triangle is always used to determine the overall composition The Gibbs Triangle: An equilateral triangle on which the pure components are represented by each corner
There are three ways of determining the overall composition Method 1 Refer to Figures OC1 and OC2 Let the overall composition be represented by the point X Draw lines passing through X, and parallel to each of the sides Where the line AC intersects the side AB tells us the concentration of component B in X The concentrations of A and C, in X, can be determined in an identical manner
Method Two: Draw lines through X, parallel to the sides of the Gibbs Triangle AC intersects AB at A BC intersects AB at B
Concentration of B = AA Concentration of C = AB Concentration of A = BB This method can be somewhat confusing, and is not recommended
Method 3 Application of the Inverse Lever Rule Draw straight lines from each corner, through X %A = AX %B = BX %C = CX AM BN CL Important Note: Always determine the concentration of the components independently, then check by adding them up to obtain 100%
Ternary Isomorphous System

Isomorphous System: A system (ternary in this case) that has only one solid phase. All components are totally soluble in the other components. The ternary system is therefore made up of three binaries that exhibit total solid solubility
The Liquidus Surface: A plot of the temperatures above which a homogeneous liquid forms for any given overall composition The Solidus Surface: A plot of the temperatures below which a (homogeneous) solid phase forms for any given overall composition
Liquidus Surface
Solidus Surface

Isothermal Section: A horizontal section of a ternary phase diagram obtained by cutting through the space diagram at a specified temperature Refer to Figures BT1A, BT1B and BT1C Identify temperature of interest, T1 here Draw the horizontal, intersecting the liquidus and solidus surfaces at points 1, 2, 3 & 4 Connect points 1 & 2 with curvature reflecting the liquidus surface Connect points 3 & 4 with curvature reflecting the solidus surface

The line connecting points 1 & 2 represents the intersection of the isotherm with the liquidus surface The line connecting points 3 & 4 represents the intersection of the isotherm with the solidus surface Area A-B-1-2: homogeneous liquid phase Area C-3-4: homogeneous solid phase Area 1-2-3-4: two phase region - liquid + solid

Isothermal Section - continued Temperature = T2, below melting points of A & B, but above melting point of C Area A-1-2: homogeneous liquid phase Area B-C-4-3: homogeneous solid phase Area 1-2-3-4: two phase region - liquid + solid

Determination of: (a) (b) Chemical composition of phases present Amount of each phase present
when the overall composition is in a two phase region

1. Locate overall composition using the Gibbs triangle 2. Draw tie-line passing through X, to intersect the phase boundaries at Y and Z 3. The chemical composition of the liquid phase is given by the location of the point Y within the Gibbs Triangle 4. The chemical composition of the solid phase is given by the location of the point Z within the Gibbs Triangle

Tie line: A straight line joining any two ternary compositions Amount of each phase present is determined by using the Inverse Lever Rule 5. Fraction of solid = YX/YZ 6. Fraction of liquid = ZX/YZ

Drawing tie-lines in two phase regions 1. The directions of tie lines vary gradually from that of one boundary tie line to that of the other, without crossing each other 2. They must run between two one-phase regions 3. Except for the two bounding tie-lines, they are not necessarily pointed toward the corners of the compositional triangle
Ternary Eutectic System

(No Solid Solubility)
Ternary Eutectic System No Solid Solubility
The Ternary Eutectic Reaction: L = ++ A liquid phase solidifies into three separate solid phases Made up of three binary eutectic systems, all of which exhibit no solid solubility

Phase regions: Homogeneous liquid phase Liquid + one solid phase Liquid + two solid phases Three solid phases

The Liquidus Surface The liquidus surface dips down somewhere in the middle, to the ternary eutectic point, which would be at a temperature lower than all three binary eutectic temperatures All points in space, above the liquidus surface, represent the existence of a homogeneous liquid phase All points in space, below the liquidus surface, represent the existence of two or more phases (more on this later)

The Liquidus Surface (continued) The Liquidus Projection - a projection of the liquidus surface onto a plane, with indications of isotherms and phase regions The liquidus surface also represents the boundary between the single phase liquid region and the (liquid + one solid phase) regions

Boundaries between 2 phase regions & 3 phase regions With reference to Figure EB1: The surface P-E-F-J represents the boundary between the liquid region and the (liquid + one solid phase) region The surfaces P-E-G-I-P and P-J-H-I-J-P represent the boundary between the (liquid + one solid phase) region and the (liquid + two solid phases) regions

Isothermal Section at T1, below melting point of A, but above melting points of B and C We have two regions: a region of liquid and a region of liquid + A The boundary between these two regions is a line, the curvature of which is in accordance with the liquidus surface

Isothermal Section at T2, below the melting points of A and C, but above the melting point of B, and above the eutectic temperature of the system A-C This isothermal section has three regions - L, L+A, and L + C The boundary between L and L+A is determined by where the isothermal plane cuts the liquidus surface

Isothermal section at temperature T3, below the eutectic temperature of the system A-C, but still above the melting point of B The isothermal section now has four regions: L, L+A, L + C, L + A + C Note that points 2 and 4 have converged and moved into the Gibbs Triangle; this represents the path that connects the A-C eutectic point to the ternary eutectic point

The boundaries between the one-phase and two-phase regions, and the two-phase and three-phase regions are lines, but the onephase region and the three-phase region meet at a point The three-phase region is a triangle - called a tie-triangle
(for isothermal sections of ternary phase diagrams)

Law of Adjoining Phases
R1 = R - D- - D+ >= 0 R1: dimension of boundary between neighboring phase regions; 0 for point contact, 1 for line contact and 2 for surface contact R: dimension of the concerned diagram or section of a diagram; for an isothermal section of a ternary, R = 2 D-: number of phases that disappear when crossing the boundary from one phase region to another D+: number of phases that appear when crossing the boundary from one phase region to another
Law of Adjoining Phases

(continued)
1-phase region with 2-phase region: 1-phase region with 3-phase region: 2-phase region with 3-phase region: 2-phase region with 2-phase region: 1-phase region with 1-phase region:
line point tie-line point point


Isothermal section at temperature T4, below the melting points of A, B and C, and below the eutectic temperature of the A-C system, but above the A-B and B-C eutectic temperatures The isothermal section now has five regions: L, L+A, L+B, L+C, L+A+C Point 2 has moved further into the Gibbs Triangle, towards the ternary eutectic point

Isothermal section at temperature T5, above the eutectic temperature of the B-C system, but below all other melting points and eutectic points The isothermal section now has six regions: L, L+A, L+B, L+C, L+A+B, L+A+C In addition to Point 2, Point 1 has also moved into the Gibbs Triangle, towards the ternary eutectic

Isothermal section at temperature T6, above the ternary eutectic temperature, but below all other melting points and eutectic points The isothermal section now has seven regions: L, L+A, L+B, L+C, L+A+B, L+A+C, L+B+C In addition to Points 1 & 2, Point 3 has also moved into the Gibbs Triangle, towards the ternary eutectic Note that the liquid regions is slowly converging towards the ternary eutectic point

Solidification Sequence Given an overall composition, determine the sequence of solidification, assuming equilibrium conditions
Let the overall composition be given by the point X Imagine a line, orthogonal to the plane of the liquidus projection, passing through X Let this line intersect the liquidus surface at a temperature T1

Solidification Sequence (continued) For all temperatures T > T1, there is one homogeneous liquid phase Solidification begins when T = T1 The first solid to appear is: A

Solidification Sequence (continued) When T < T1, then precipitation of A occurs As the temperature drops, the composition of the liquid phase travels along the line XY, on the liquidus surface, towards Y. Let the temperature at Y be T2 At temperatures of T2 < T < T1, there are two phases in equilibrium - A and L

Solidification Sequence (continued) In order to determine the amount of each phase present, we need to fix the temperature first. Let T = T, being at point Z We use the Inverse Lever Rule Fraction of L = AX/AZ Fraction of A = XZ/AZ Chemical composition of the liquid phase is determined by the composition of point Z within the Gibbs Triangle

Solidification Sequence (continued) At point Y, where T = T2, the second solid phase, B, begins to precipitate
Over the temperature range of T2 > T > TE: - The solid phases A and B exist in equilibrium with L - Both solid phases, A and B, coprecipitate as the temperature is lowered

Solidification Sequence (continued) Analysis when T = T, i.e., at point M Composition of L is given by the composition of M within the Gibbs Triangle How do we determine the amounts of A, B and L? Let temperature T correspond to the point M

Solidification Sequence (continued) Construct the triangle A-B-M This triangle is a ternary system in which the overall composition X can be represented in terms of the three constituents Fraction of A = PX/PA Fraction of B = QX/QB Fraction of L = RX/RM

Phase analysis at a given temperature Isothermal Section at T = T4 will be used as reference

For all overall compositions that fall within the region marked L, the chemical composition of the liquid phase is the same as the overall composition

Phase analysis at a given temperature If the overall composition falls within a two phase region, e.g., L + C, then: 1. Locate the position of the overall composition, X, within the Gibbs Triangle 2. Draw tie lines, in this case connecting point C to line 2-3, and passing through X, and intersecting line 2-3 at Y 3. Use the Inverse Lever Rule to determine the amounts of L and C Fraction of L = CX/CY Fraction of C = YX/CY

Phase analysis at a given temperature The chemical composition of C in this case is 100% C
The chemical composition of L is given by determining the composition the point Y represents within the Gibbs Triangle

Phase analysis at a given temperature If the overall composition falls within a three phase region, e.g., L + A + C 1. Locate the position of the overall composition, Y, within the Gibbs Triangle 2. Construct the following straight lines: A-Y-Q, M-Y-R and C-Y-P 3. Use the Inverse Lever Rule to determine the amounts of L, A and C Fraction of A = QY/QA Fraction of C = PY/PC Fraction of L = YR/MR

Phase analysis at a given temperature The chemical composition of A in this case is 100% A
The chemical composition of C in this case is 100% C The chemical composition of L is given by determining the composition the point Y represents within the Gibbs Triangle
Some Useful Rules regarding Phase Diagrams

The Boundary Rule: Any p-phase region can be bounded only by regions containing p +/- 1 phases, where p denotes the number of phases. The Boundary Curvature Rule: Boundaries of one-phase regions must meet with curvatures such that the boundaries extrapolate into the adjacent two-phase regions. The Solubility Rule: All components are soluble to some degree in all phases

(With Solid Solubility)
Ternary Eutectic System With Solid Solubility
Alamade Lines
A join connecting the composition of the primary crystals of two areas having a common boundary line. Alkamade Theorem: The intersection of a boundary line with its Corresponding Alkamade line represents a temperature maximum on that boundary line and a temperature minimum on the Alkamade Line. Alkamade lines never cross one another
Source: Bergeron & Risbud
Alamade Lines
A Alkamade Lines: A-B B-C C-A B-BC BC-C
A-BC
BC

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TERNARY PHASE DIAGRAMS

An Introduction Guna Selvaduray San Jose State University

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Utility of Ternary Phase Diagrams

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

References on Ternary Phase Diagrams

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

What are Ternary Phase Diagrams?

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

The Gibbs Phase Rule for 3-Component Systems

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Some Important Terms

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

when the overall composition is in a two phase region

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Isomorphous System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Eutectic System

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Eutectic System No Solid Solubility

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Eutectic System No Solid Solubility

G. Selvaduray - SJSU - Oct 2004

Ternary Eutectic System No Solid Solubility