Phase Diagrams for Metal and Alloy

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The mechanical properties of materials depend strongly upon microstructure and the development of
microstructure of an alloy is related to the characteristics of its phase diagram. Therefore, the
understanding of phase diagrams for alloy systems is very important. Phase diagram is very useful
to represent the most stable relationships between phases in alloy systems. In addition, phase
diagrams provide valuable information about melting, casting, crystallization, and other phenomena.
Before interpret and utilize phase diagram, it is necessary to understand component, system and
phase.Components are pure metals and/or compounds of which an alloy is composed. For
example, in a copperzinc brass, the components are Cu and Zn. System may refer to a specific
body of material under consideration (e.g., a ladle of molten steel). Or it may relate to the series of
possible alloys consisting of the same components, but without regard to alloy composition (e.g., the
ironcarbon system). Phase may be defined as a homogeneous portion of a system that has
uniform physical and chemical characteristics. Every pure material is considered to be a phase; so
also

is

every

solid,

liquid,

and

gaseous

Unary

solution.
System

Perhaps the simplest and easiest type of phase diagram to understand is that for a one-component
system. In a one-component system, or unary system, however, the composition does not vary, but
must always be unity. Therefore there are only two variables which can vary: pressure and
temperature. Every possible combination of temperature and pressure can be readily represented by
points on a two-dimensional diagram. Three phases (solid-, liquid, and vapor-phase) are found on
this type of phase diagram.

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Binary

System

Another type of common phase diagram is that for two components or binary system. Binary phase
diagrams represent the relationships between temperature and the compositions of phases at
equilibrium at constant external pressure. Areas, or phase regions, are defined on these
temperature-versus-composition plots within which either one or two phases exist. For an alloy of
specified composition and at a known temperature, the phases present, their compositions, and
relative
Binary

amounts

under
Systems

equilibrium
without

conditions

may
Solid

be

determined.
Solution

Consider a system of two components, A and B, which are completely soluble in one another in the
liquid state, but completely insoluble in one another in the solid state. The melting point of a liquid is
normally depressed if the liquid contains some other substance in solution.

Binary

Systems

with

Total

Solid

Solubility

(Binary

Isomorphous

Systems)

It is possible for solids to form a solution. Solid solution means that the solute component enters and
becomes a part of the crystalline solvent, without altering its basic structure. Solid solutions with
complete solid solubility, i.e., solid solubility over the entire range of the composition, are possible to
form. For a metallic binary solution to exhibit a complete solid solubility, for instance, both metals
must have the same type of crystal structure, nearly identical atomic radii and electronegativities,
and similar valences because it must be possible to replace all the atoms of the initial solvent with
solute atoms without causing a change in crystal structure. The coppernickel system displays this
behavior. The coppernickel system is termed isomorphous because of this complete liquid and
solid solubility of the two components. The phase diagram shapes are as shown below:

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Three different phase regions, or fields, appear on the diagram, an alpha () field, a liquid (L) field,
and a two-phase field. The liquid L is a homogeneous liquid solution composed of both A and B. The

-phase is a substitutional solid solution consisting of both A and B atoms. At temperatures below
about A and B are mutually soluble in each other in the solid state for all compositions.
Binary

Systems

with Partial

Solid

Solubility

(Binary

Eutectic

System)

In many cases, atom size, crystal structure or other factors restrict the ease with which solute atoms
can be dissolved in the solvent in the solid state. Thus it is much more common to find that solids
are partly soluble in one another rather than be either completely soluble or completely insoluble.
The coppersilver system displays this behavior. The following is a binary system which shows
partial solid solubility:

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Three single-phase regions are found on the diagram: , , and liquid. The -phase is a solid
solution rich in A atom; it has B atom as the solute component. Otherwise in -phase solid solution, A
is the solute. Pure A and pure B are also considered to be - and -phases, respectively.
There are also three two-phase regions found for the system: The +L, +L and +. The and phase solid solutions coexist for all compositions and temperatures within the + phase field; the
+liquid

and

++liquid

phases

also

coexist

in

their

respective

phase

regions.

References:
Callister,

W.D.

2007.

Materials

science

and

engineering

Lee, H.G. 2000. Chemical Thermodynamics for Metals And Materials

an

introduction

7ed