Homework 4 | MSE 500 | Fall 2024
Chapter 9
1) “9.13 A copper-nickel alloy of composition [50 wt% Ni-50 wt% Cu] is slowly heated from a
temperature of [1200oC (2192oF)].
(a) At what temperature does the first liquid phase form?
(b) What is the composition of this liquid phase?
(c) At what temperature does complete melting of the alloy occur?
(d) What is the composition of the last solid remaining prior to complete melting?”
[Callister & Rethwisch]
Ans:
1320
1270
36% Ni
63% Ni
50
Figure 1: Cu-Ni Phase diagram (Taken from Lecture slide)
(a) The given starting point (50 wt.% Ni, 1200◦C) is in the single-phase α region. Proceeding
upward from this point, the first liquid phase would be expected to form at the solidus line.
The temperature associated with the intersection of 50 wt.% Ni and the solidus line was
estimated at 1270 C shown in the orange line.
(b) Composition of the liquid phase that just forms at this temperature is based on the
composition of Ni at which the tie line at this temperature intersects the liquidus line as
shown in red; this intersection point was estimated as 36 wt.% Ni-64 wt.% Cu.
(c) Complete melting occurs when the purple-blue line touches the liquidus line i.e. 1320 C.
(d) Composition of the last solid can be found out by going right from the complete melting
liquidous horizontal line horizontally till it touches the solidus line and then comes vertically
downward we get the composition as 63 wt.% Ni and 37 wt.% Cu
2) “9.19 A [20 wt% Ag-80 wt% Cu] alloy is heated to a temperature within the [α + liquid]
phase region. If the composition of the liquid phase is [30 wt% Ag], determine
(a) the temperature of the alloy
(b) the composition of the [α] phase
(c) the mass fractions of both phases.” [Callister & Rethwisch]
960
(a) The intersection of a vertical line at 30 wt.% Ag with the liquidus line can be used to
estimate the alloy temperature as 960 C
(b) The composition of the α phase can be determined based on the intersection of a tie line
with the solidus line, which was determined as 7 wt.% Ag-93 wt.% Cu.
(c) Mass fraction of Liquid and α phase
Homework 4 | MSE 500 | Fall 2024
3) “9.24 For [15.50 kg] of a magnesium-lead alloy of composition [40 wt% Pb-60 wt% Mg], is
it possible, at equilibrium, to have α and Mg2Pb phases having respective masses of
[11.16 kg] and [4.34 kg]? If so, what will be the approximate temperature of the alloy? If
such an alloy is not possible, explain why.” [Callister & Rethwisch]
4) “9.27 (a) Briefly describe the phenomenon of coring and why it occurs.
(b) Cite one undesirable consequence of coring.” [Callister & Rethwisch]
Answer:
(a) A metallurgical phenomenon known as coring happens when alloys are cooled down
quickly, where diffusion of atoms cannot keep up with the cooling process and thus can not
maintain the equilibrium properly. This leads to a variation of concentration of solute across
the grains where the core of each grain is rich in higher melting-point elements, while the
outer regions near the grain boundaries get enriched in lower melting-point elements
resulting in a “cored" structure.
(b) The mechanical performance of the alloy gets affected by coring resulting in a reduction
of alloy’s overall strength and toughness.
5) “9.68 The mass fraction of eutectoid ferrite in an iron-carbon alloy is [0.60]. On the basis of
this information, is it possible to determine the composition of the alloy? If so, what is its
composition? If this is not possible, explain why.” [Callister & Rethwisch]
Hence, it is possible to determine the composition of the specified alloy with two possibilities
depending on whether this is a hypoeutectoid or hypereutectoid alloy.
