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Phase Transformations in Fe-C System

Fe-C system is chosen to illustrate some typical transformations and resulting microstructures, not to mention its importance in engineering applications of steels Isothermal Transformation Diagrams Such a diagram plots the fraction of transformation versus time when the alloy is held isothermally (i. e. at a constant temperature) at various temperatures Example: formation of pearlite in a eutectoid alloy (0.76C) from the eutectoid reaction = + Fe3C (at T = Ti)
436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials

fraction of transformation vs time curves at various temperatures


Avrami equation

y = 1 exp( kt )

completion time: t100

half time: t50

start time: t0 Corresponding to each temperature, we can find t0, t50 and t100.

Reading: 10.5-10.9 (5th & 6th ed)


Dr. K. Xia

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (2)

plot temperature versus log t0, t50 and t100, respectively connecting all the points for t0 = the start curve connecting all the points for t50 = the half curve connecting all the points for t100 = the completion curve these curves are also called TTT curves or C curves the rate of transformation is the fastest at an intermediate temperature (the nose)

no reaction above Te

675 650

t50 = ~28 h at ~720C

t50 < 5 s at 600C

436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials

Dr. K. Xia

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (3)

due to high diffusion rate

due to low diffusion rate

ABCD = a real heat treatment route

436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials

Dr. K. Xia

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (4)


Coarse pearlite

Microstructures

Fine pearlite 436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials Dr. K. Xia

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (5)

Extended (down to ~215C) TTT diagram for the eutectoid steel at T < ~540C, a new microstructure - bainite - forms as a result of phase transformation Bainite takes a needle or a plate shape and consists of elongated cementite in a matrix of ferrite

ferrite cementite

nose fastest transformation

pearlite ~540C

bainite

austenite

436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials

Dr. K. Xia

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (6)

Complete TTT diagram for the eutectoid steel when cooled so fast that no C diffusion is possible, a new phase - martensite forms (at even lower temperatures) from the austenite phase the martensite (M) transformation is diffusionless, and thus takes virtully no time (the amount of M depends on T only, NOT on time)

Above M(start), no M forms

At M(90%), 90% of A transforms into M

436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials

Dr. K. Xia

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (7)

martensite Fe forms a body-centred hard tetragonal (BCT) unit cell and brittle C atoms remain in the interstitial sites (no formation of further cementite) transfor a non-equilibrium phase (not mation possible present in the phase diagram)
Martensite (BCT)

Dark phase: martensite of needle shape Light phase: untransformed austenite

Austenite (FCC)

c>a 436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials Dr. K. Xia

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (8)

Example 10.1 Fe-C of eutectoid composition starting microstructure: at 760C Find: microstructures and percentages of each microconstituent after the following heat treatments (a) rapid cooling to 350C, holding for 10000 s, and quenching to RT (b) rapid cooling to 250C, holding for 100 s, and quenching to RT (c) rapid cooling to 650C, holding for 20 s, rapid cooling to 400C, holding for 1000 s, and quenching to RT
436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials

A to P starts 100%A

50%P 50%A

no more transformation

A to B starts

A to B completes

These phases and structures cannot be read from the equilibrium phase diagram!!
100%B

100%A 100%A

A to B starts

50%B

100%A A to M starts 50%M 90%M

No M forms as the starting phase is B or P

Dr. K. Xia

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (9)

Effect of composition C: non-eutectoid compositions e. g. a hypereutectoid alloy (Co) proeutectoid cementite may appear
T' A to C starts Proeutectoid Fe3C

Co

T'

A & C coexist

+ C A to P completes

A to C A to C starts completes A to P starts

436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials

Dr. K. Xia

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (10)

other alloying elements shape and position of the starting, half and completion lines may be different

proeutectoid ferrite

HW: follow isothermal phase transformations of alloy steel 4340 at 350, 550, 650 and 750C 4340 alloy steel: Fe-0.4C-1.8Ni0.7Mn-0.8Cr-0.2Si-0.25Mo

Fe-0.76C

436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials

Dr. K. Xia

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (11)

Continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams In practice, the cooling is often continuously carried out at a certain rate to room temperature, rather than rapid cooling to a certain temperature and holding at the temperature for a period of time when the isothermal transformation diagrams are applicable. For continuous cooling, the transformation diagrams are different: various curves are usually shifted to lower temperatures and longer times. Also, some phases may not appear at all.
436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials

isothermal holding

continuous cooling

Dr. K. Xia

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (12)

Example: continuous cooling of a eutectoid steel


A to P starts

P A
A to P finishes: 100% P A to P stops: P+ remaining A remaining A to M starts

A to P transformation stops at line AB

A to M starts M P+M

Cooling rate determines what microstructures will be present following heat treatment
Dr. K. Xia

436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials

Phase Transformations in Fe-C System (13)

Things can certainly get much more complicated with alloying, but the diagram can be read in the same way.

4340 alloy steel

HW: Try to reach the final microstructures following cooling at different rates 436-221/223/281 Unit 2: Engineering Materials Dr. K. Xia

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