The Iron-Iron Carbide Phase Diagram

Heat Treatment of Steel

Features
Peritectic L + d = g
Eutectic L = g + Fe
3
C
Eutectoid g = a + Fe
3
C
Phases present
L
Reactions
d
Bcc structure
Paramagnetic
g austenite
Fcc structure
Non-magnetic
ductile
a ferrite
Bcc structure
Ferromagnetic
Fairly ductile
Fe
3
C cementite
Orthorhombic
Hard
brittle
Max. solubility of C in ferrite=0.022%

Max. solubility of C in austenite=2.11%
Microstructures
a g
Steels
Steel is an interstitial solid solution of carbon in iron.

Theoretically steel has a maximum of 2.11% carbon.

In practice, the amount of carbon rarely exceeds 0.8%
Classification/Nomenclature
Low carbon steels up to 0.2%C

Medium carbon steels 0.2-0.4%C

High carbon steels >0.4% C
AISI 1020:
Last two numbers indicate
Amount of carbon :0.2%C
10 indicates plain carbon steel
AISI 4340: 0.4%C
43 indicates alloy steel
Microstructural changes in steel on
cooling for different compositions
Eutectoid steel
Hypoeutectoid steel
Hypereutectoid steel