The Science and Engineering

of Materials, 4th ed
Donald R. Askeland Pradeep P. Phul

Chapter 11Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram

L + Fe3C

(0.76 wt% C) (0.022 wt% C) + Fe3C

Figure 11.15 The Fe-Fe3C phase
diagram ( a portion of the Fe-C
diagram). The vertical line at 6.67% C
is the stoichiometric compound Fe3C.

Section 11.9
The Eutectoid Reaction
Austenite - The name given to the FCC crystal structure
of iron.
Ferrite - The name given to the BCC crystal structure of
iron that can occur as or .
Cementite - The hard, brittle ceramic-like compound
Fe3C that, when properly dispersed, provides the
strengthening in steels.
Pearlite - A two-phase lamellar microconstituent,
containing ferrite and cementite, that forms in steels
cooled in a normal fashion or isothermally transformed
at relatively high temperatures.

Figure 11.16 Growth and structure of pearlite: (a)

redistribution of carbon and iron, and (b)
photomicrograph of the pearlite lamellae (2000).
(From ASM Handbook, Vol. 7, (1972), ASM
International, Materials Park, OH 44073.)

Mechanical Behavior of Fe-C Alloys (I)

Cementite is harder and more brittle than ferrite
increasing cementite fraction therefore makes harder, less
ductile material.

Example 11.5
Phases and Composition of Pearlite
Calculate the amounts of ferrite and cementite present in
pearlite.
Example 11.5 SOLUTION
Since pearlite must contain 0.77% C, using the lever rule:

% 6.67 0.77 100 88.7%

6.67 0.0218
% Fe3C 0.77 0.0218 100 11.3%
6.67 0.0218
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Figure 11.17 The evolution of the microstructure of

hypoeutectoid and hypoeutectoid steels during cooling. In
relationship to the Fe-Fe3C phase diagram.

Figure 11.18 (a) A hypoeutectoid steel showing primary

(white) and pearlite ( 400). (b) A hypereutectoid
steel showing primary Fe3C surrounding pearlite (
800). (From ASM Handbook, Vol. 7, (1972), ASM
International, Materials Park, OH 44073.)

Example 11.7
Phases in Hypoeutectoid
Plain Carbon Steel
Calculate the amounts and compositions of phases and
microconstituents in a Fe-0.60% C alloy at 726oC.
Example 11.7 SOLUTION
The phases are ferrite and cementite. Using a tie line and
working the lever law at 726oC, we find:

6
.
67

0
.
60
(0.0218%C )%
100 91.3%
6.67 0.0218
0.60 0.0218
Fe3C (6.67%C )%Fe3C
100 8.7%
6.67 0.0218

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Example 11.7 SOLUTION (Continued)

All of the austenite at 727oC will have eutectoid
composition (i.e., it will contain 0.77% C) and will
transform to pearlite; all of the proeutectoid ferrite will
remain as primary ferrite.

0.77 0.60 100

6
.
67

0
.
0218

22.7%
Austentite just above 727o C Pearlite : 0.77% C
0.60 - 0.0218
% Pearlite
100 77.3%
6
.
67

0
.
0218

Primary : 0.0218% C % Primary

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Section 11.10
Controlling the Eutectoid Reaction
Controlling the Amount of the Eutectoid
Controlling the Austenite Grain Size

Controlling the Cooling Rate

Controlling the Transformation Temperature
TTT diagram - The time-temperaturetransformation diagram describes the time
required at any temperature for a phase
transformation to begin and end.
Isothermal transformation - When the amount of a
transformation at a particular temperature depends on
the time permitted for the transformation.
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Figure 11.21 The time-temperature-transformation

(TTT) diagram for an eutectoid steel.

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Section 11.11
The Martensitic Reaction and
Tempering
Martensite - A metastable phase formed in steel and
other materials by a diffusionless, athermal
transformation.
Displacive transformation - A phase transformation that
occurs via small displacements of atoms or ions and
without diffusion. Same as athermal or martensitic
transformation.

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Figure 11.25 (a) The unit cell of BCT martensite is related to

the FCC austenite unit cell. (b) As the percentage of carbon
increases, more interstitial sites are filled by the carbon atoms
and the tetragonal structure of the martensite becomes more
pronounced.

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Figure 11.26 The effect of carbon content on the hardness of

martensite in steels.

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Figure 11.27 (a) Lath martensite in low-carbon steel

( 80). (b) Plate martensite in high-carbon steel
( 400). (From ASM Handbook, Vol. 8, (1973), ASM
International, Materials Park, OH 44073.)

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Tempering - A lowtemperature heat

treatment used to
reduce the hardness
of martensite by
permitting the
martensite to begin to
decompose to the
equilibrium phases.

Figure 11.28 Effect of

tempering temperature
on the properties of
and eutectoid steel.

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Figure 12.14 Formation of quench cracks caused by residual

stresses produced during quenching. The figure illustrates
the development of stresses as the austenite transforms to
martensite during cooling.

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Figure 12.15 The

marquenching heat
treatment designed
to reduce residual
stresses ands quench
cracking.

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If transformation
temperature is low
enough (540C)
bainite rather than
fine pearlite forms.

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Section 12.6
Application of Hardenability
The Grossman
test

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used herein
under determining
license.
Figure 12.22 The set-up for the Jominy test used
for
the
hardenability of a steel.
2003 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning is a trademark

Jominy test - The test used to evaluate hardenability. An

austenitized steel bar is quenched at one end only, thus producing
a range of cooling rates along the bar.
Jominy distance - The distance from the quenched end of a Jominy
bar. The Jominy distance is related to the cooling rate.

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Hardenability
curves - Graphs
showing the effect
of the cooling rate
on the hardness of
as-quenched
steel.

Figure 12.23 The

hardenability curves
for several steels.

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Example 12.5
Design of a Wear-Resistant Gear

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Learning is a trademark used herein under license.

A gear made from 9310 steel, which has an as-quenched

hardness at a critical location of HRC 40, wears at an excessive
rate. Tests have shown that an as-quenched hardness of at
least HRC 50 is required at that critical location. Design a steel
that would be appropriate.

Figure 12.23 The

hardenability curves for
several steels.

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Example 12.5 SOLUTION

From Figure 12.23, a hardness of HRC 40 in a 9310 steel
corresponds to a Jominy distance of 10/16 in. (10oC/s). If we
assume the same Jominy distance, the other steels shown in
Figure 12.23 have the following hardnesses at the critical
location:
1050 HRC 28

1080 HRC 36

8640 HRC 52

4340 HRC 60

4320 HRC 31

In Table 12-1, we find that the 86xx steels contain less

alloying elements than the 43xx steels; thus the 8640 steel is
probably less expensive than the 4340 steel and might be our
best choice. We must also consider other factors such as
durability.

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Figure 12.24 The Grossman chart used to determine the

hardenability at the center of a steel bar for different
quenchants.

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