The Iron-Iron Carbide Phase Diagram Heat Treatment of Steel
Features Reactions Phases present L a ferrite Bcc structure Ferromagnetic Fairly ductile d Bcc structure Paramagnetic g austenite Fcc structure Non-magnetic ductile Fe3C cementite Orthorhombic Hard brittle Reactions Peritectic L + d = g Max. solubility of C in ferrite=0.022% Max. solubility of C in austenite=2.11% Eutectic L = g + Fe3C Eutectoid g = a + Fe3C
Microstructures a g
Steels Classification/Nomenclature 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