Chapter 10

(From Callister)

PHASE
TRANSFORMATIONS IN
METALS

Contents:
Phase transformations

Kinetics of solid state reactions

Isothermal transformation diagrams

Continuous cooling transformation diagrams

Mechanical behaviour of Iron-carbon alloys

Introduction:
Phase

Metastable system
Constitutional diagram
Interpretation of phase diagram
lever rule
Transformation types
Solid state transformations

Kinetics of solid state transformation:

Plot of fraction reacted versus the logarithm of time typical of many

solid-state transformations in which temperature is held constant.

Avrami equation:
(10.1)
(10.2)

For most reactions and over specific temperature ranges,

rate increases with temperature according to

Ae

Q
RT

(10.3)

Percent recrystallization as a function of time and at constant

temperature for pure copper.

10.4 Multiphase Transformations.

Supercooling
Superheating

10.5 ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

PEARLITE

Fe C

3
Eutectoid
transformation (cementite)

Fe

(Austenite)
C

FCC

(ferrite)

(BCC)

Iron- Iron Carbide Eutectoid reaction

10.5 ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

(PEARLITE)

Carbon atoms diffuse away from the 0.022 wt% ferrite regions and to the
6.7 wt% cementite layers, as the pearlite extends from the grain boundary
into the unreacted austenite grain.

Mechanism of Iron-Iron Carbide Eutectoid reaction

10.5 ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

(PEARLITE)
Reaction rate is a result of nucleation and growth of crystals.

TE = Eutectoid temperature

10.5 ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

(PEARLITE)

10.5 ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

or
Time-Temperature-Transformation (T-T-T) Plot
(PEARLITE)

The austenite-to-pearlite transformation will occur

only if an alloy is supercooled to below the eutectoid
temperature.
To the left of the transformation start curve only
austenite (unstable form) will be present and to the
right of finish curve , only pearlite will exist.
The time necessary for the transformation to begin
and then end depends on temperature.
The transformation rate increases with decreasing
temperature.
The start and finish curves are nearly parallel and
they approach the eutectoid line asymptotically.

10.5 ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

or
Time-Temperature-Transformation (T-T-T) Plot
(PEARLITE)
The Isothermal Transformation Diagram or TTT diagram
is valid only for a particular composition
These plots are accurate only for transformations in
which the temperature of the alloy is held constant
throughout the duration of reaction.
At compositions other than eutectoid, a proeutectoid
phase (ferrite or cementite) coexist with
pearlite.Additional curves for proeutectoid transformation
must be included on TTT diagrams.

10.5 ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

(PEARLITE)
Eutectoid composition, Co = 0.76wt%C
Begin at T > 727C
Rapidly cool to 625C and hold isothermally.

PEARLITE MORPHOLOGY
Two cases:
Ttransf just below TE

Larger T: diffusion is faster, C

atoms can diffuse relatively long
distances. --Pearlite is coarser.

- Smaller T:
colonies are
larger

Ttransf well below TE

--Smaller T: diffusion is slower

--Pearlite is finer.

- Larger T:
colonies are
smaller

10.5 ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

(PEARLITE) (Temperature Dependence)

Data were collected after rapidly cooling a specimen composed of 100%

austenite to the temperature indicated; that temperature was maintained
constant throughout the course of the reaction.

10.5 ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

for a 1.13 wt% C.

Banite Formation
Banite (Transformation product of austenite)- Temperature
range 215-540 0C
Bainite consists of ferrite and cementite phases.

Microstructural details of bainite can be broadly visible only

using electron microscopy.
Data were collected after rapidly cooling a specimen composed
of 100% austenite to the temperature indicated; that temperature
was maintained constant throughout the course of the reaction.

10.5 ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

(BAINITE)

Important Points, ITD- Bainite

Rate of reaction is higher at point N
Bainite transformation rate increases exponentially with rising
temperature
Upper Banite (Transformation Temperature range ) 300 to 540 0C
Lower Banite 200 to 300 0C

Pearlitic and Banitic transformations are competitive,

transformation between pearlite and bainite not possible
without reheating to form austenite.

Upper Banite

Lower Banite

Spheroidite Formation
Heating pearlitic or bainitic microstructures in the range above
700 0C for between 18- 24 h, gives Spheroidite
This transformation has occurred by additional carbon diffusion
No change in the compositions or relative amounts of ferrite
and cementite phases

Spheroidite Microstructure

Sphere like small particles are cementite, the continuous

phase is ferrite

Martensite Formation
Martensite is a nonequlibrium structure and transformation
does not involve diffusion
During martensitic transformation, quenching rate is rapid
enough to prevent carbon diffusion
FCC Austenite

BCT Martensite
Polymeric
Polymeric
transformation
transformation

(involves single atom jumps)

Fe atom
sites
x

x
x
x
x

potential
x
C atom sites

ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

(MARTENSITE)

Important Points, ITD- Martensite

Martensitic transformation temperature, 100 0C to 215 0C,
(Low), No carbon diffusion
Athermal transformation

Massive martensite microstructure

(Lath)

Marensite grain as long and thin plates

For alloys containing less than 0.6Wt % C

Plate Martensitic microstructure

(Lenticular)

Neddle or plate like martensitic grain in untranformed austenite

For alloys containing more than 0.6Wt % C

EX. 2
Sketch and label time temperature paths on T-T-T
diagram to produce following microstructures
1) 100% Coarse pearlite
2) 50% martensite and 50% austenite

3) 50% coarse pearlite , 25% bainite and 25%

martensite.

EX.3
ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS
Using the isothermal transformation diagram for an
iron carbon alloy of eutectoid composition, specify the
nature of the final microstructure, subjected to the
following time- temperature treatments:
(a) Rapidly cool to 350 C, hold for 104s, and quench to
the room temperature.
(b) Rapidly cool to 250 C, hold for 100s, and quench to
the room temperature.
(c) Rapidly cool to 650 C, hold for 20s, rapidly cool to
400 C, hold for 103s, and quench to the room
temperature.

10.5 ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

Example Problem

CONTINUOUS COOLING TRANSFORMATION

DIAGRAMS
Isothermal heat treatments are not most practical to conduct
Most heat treatments for steels involve the continuous cooling
of a specimen to room temperature.
Hence ITD need modification to account for occurrence of
transformation at constantly changing temperature
For continuous cooling, the time required for a reaction to
begin and end is delayed. Thus the isothermal curves are shifted
to longer times and lower temperatures
Normally banite will not form for any carbon steel when
contineously cooled to room temperature

CONTINUOUS COOLING TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

CONTINUOUS COOLING TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

 For the continuous

cooling of eutectoid
composition,
there
exists
a
critical
quenching
rate,
which represents the
minimum
rate
of
quenching that will
produce a totally
martensitic structure.

CONTINUOUS COOLING TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

EX.4
Sketch and label CCT diagram for a 0.35 wt% C iron carbon
alloy to yield the following microstructures. The cooling start
from 850 C
(a) fine pearlite and proeutectoid ferrite
(b) Martensite
(c) martensite and proeutectoid ferrite
(d) coarse pearlite and proeutectoid ferrite
(e) martensite, fine pearlite, and proeutectoid ferrite.

Micro constituent Trans- Temp Microstructur

e
Coarse pearlite
6750c
Thick layers
of & Fe3C
Fine pearlite
6000c
Thin layers of
& Fe3C
Upper banite
5400c
Alternate
thick layers
of Fe3C
needle and
strips
Lower banite
3000c
thin plate
and Fe3C
fine rod

Spheroidite
(Reheated
pearlite or banite)

AT 7000c,
Reaction
time high

Massive
martensite (Lath)
< 0.6Wt % C

2150c

Lenticular (Plate)
Martensite >
0.6Wt % C

2150c

Fe3C
spherical
particles in
matrix
Marensite
grain as long
and thin
plates
Neddle or
plate like
martensitic
grain in
untranformed
austenite

Mechanical Behavior of Fe-C Alloys

Fine Pearlite

Fine pearlite is harder and stronger than Coarse pearlite because

Hard Cementite is reinforcing the soft ferrite in the region adjacent to the boundary

Phase boundaries serves as barriers to dislocation motion during plastic

deformation

Fine pearlite vs coarse pearlite vs spheroidite

Fine pearlite is harder and stronger than coarse pearlite,

Coarse pearlite is more ductile than fine pearlite.
Reason
1. There is a large adherence between the two phases
across the boundary.
2. Cementite phase restricts deformation of softer ferrite
phase. The degree of reinforcement is higher in fine
pearlite, because of the greater phase boundary area per
unit volume of material.
3. Phase boundaries serves as barriers to dislocation
motion

Mechanical Behavior of Fe-C Alloys

Bainite vs pearlite
Bainite steels have fine
structure.
They are stronger and
harder than pearlitic
structure.

Effect of transformation temperature for Fe-C

alloy of eutectoid composition.

Fine Pearlite vs Martensite

Hardness: fine pearlite << martensite.

Tempered Martensite
Tempering Temperature range : 250 650C
Martensite (BCT, Single phase) ------------ Tempered martensite (F + Fe3C phases)
Microstructure
Tempered martensite as hard and strong as Martensite
Enhanced ductility and toughness
Mechanical properties depends on cementite particle size

TEMPERED MARTENSITE
reduces brittleness of martensite,
reduces internal stress caused by quenching.

Mechanical properties
(TEMPERED MARTENSITE)