Department of MME
BUET, Dhaka
Binary eutectic systems with partial miscibility
Nomenclatures and invariant reaction
Determining composition and relative amounts
Development of microstructures
Reference:
1. WD Callister, Jr. Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction,
5th Ed., Ch. 9.
2. SH Avner. Introduction to physical metallurgy, 2nd Ed., Ch. 6.
Both metals are only
partially soluble to
each other in the
solid state.
Solids are formed in
the form of solutions.
The solvus line
indicates the limit of
solid solubility.
Lead - Tin Binary Phase Diagram
The Eutectic Point
where three phases are in
equilibrium.
through this point, the
horizontal isotherm line passes
through and the eutectic
E
reaction occurs
Point E is designated by the
composition, CE and the
temperature, TE of the alloy.
Melting point of eutectic alloy is
lower than that of the components
(eutectic = “easy to melt”)
Lead - Tin Binary Phase Diagram
The Eutectic Reaction
Eutectic reaction is the transition between liquid and mixture
of two solid phases, S1 and S2, at eutectic concentration CE.
cooling
L (CE) S1 (CS1E) + S2 (CS2E)
heating
eutectic mixture
For Pb-Sn system, the eutectic
reaction may be written as:
cooling
L 61.9 Sn a19 Sn + b 97.5Sn
heating
Eutectic alloy
Short-freezing-range alloy
Behaves like pure metal
No “mushy” zone
Hypo / hypereutectic alloy
Long-freezing-range alloys
Wide mushy zone
Hypoeutectic Alloys Hypereutectic
EUTECTIC
ALLOY
Lead – Tin Binary Phase Diagram
In the case of lead-rich
alloy (0-2 wt. % of tin)
solidification proceeds
in the same manner as
for isomorphous alloys
(e.g. Cu-Ni) that we
discussed earlier.
L L+a a
Alloys with no Eutectic and forming Unsaturated Solid Solutions
At compositions
between the minimum
and the maximum solid
solubility limit, β phase
nucleates as the α solid
solubility is exceeded
upon crossing the
solvus line.
L L+ a
a a+b
Precipitates in Al-Si alloy
Alloys with no Eutectic and forming
Supersaturated Solid Solutions
Micrograph of Pb-Sn
eutectic, containing
alternate layers of Pb-rich a
phase (dark layers), and Sn-
rich b phase (light layers)
alternate layers of
a and b crystals
The Eutectic Alloy
How does eutectic microstructure form?
Compositions of α and β phases are very different. The eutectic reaction involves
redistribution of Pb and Sn atoms by atomic diffusion. This simultaneous formation
of α and β phases result in a layered (lamellar) microstructure that is called the
eutectic structure.
Micrograph of Pb-Sn eutectic, containing alternate
layers of Pb-rich a phase (dark layers), and Sn-rich
b phase (light layers)
Eutectic
Pro
The Hypoeutectic Alloy eutectic
Problem
For the Pb-Sn alloy system,
(a) What is the compositions and relative
amounts of the phases that constitute
the eutectic microstructure?
(b) For an alloy containing 30 % Sn,
(i) What are the relative amounts of
a and b phases present at the
eutectic temperature?
(ii) What are the relative amounts of
the eutectic and the proeutectic a
phase present at the same
temperature?
Solutions
For the Pb-Sn alloy system,
(a) What is the compositions and relative
amounts of the phases that constitute
the eutectic microstructure?
R S Eutectic structure consists
of a and b phases
Ca = 19.0 wt% Sn
Cb = 97.5 wt% Sn
Wa = 100 S / (R+S) = 100 (97.5 – 61.9) / (97.5 – 19.0) = 45.3 %
Wb = 100 R / (R+S) = 100 (61.9 – 19.0) / (97.5 – 19.0) = 54.7 %
Solutions
(b) For an alloy containing 30 % Sn,
(i) What are the relative amounts of
a and b phases present at the
eutectic temperature?
R S Wa = 100 S / (R+S)
= 100 (97.5 – 30.0) / (97.5 – 19.0)
= 86.0 %
Wb = 100 R / (R+S)
= 100 (30.0 – 19.0) / (97.5 – 19.0)
= 13.0 %
Solutions
(b) For an alloy containing 30 % Sn,
(ii) What are the relative amounts of
the eutectic and the proeutectic a
phase present at the same
temperature?
R S Wa = 100 S / (R+S)
= 100 (61.9 – 30.0) / (61.9 – 19.0)
= 74.4 %
WE = 100 R / (R+S)
= 100 (30.0 – 19.0) / (61.9 – 19.0)
= 23.6 %
L
Temperature
L+a
a+b
Time
Alloys with no eutectic
Temperature
L
L + (a+b)
(a + b)
Time
Eutectic alloy
L
Temperature
L+a
(a+b) + a
Time
Hypo / hyper eutectic alloy
