Module 5 - Steel Alloy and Heat Treatment

04 October 2020 3:37

Why study phase transformation? Phase Diagrams The Iron-Iron Carbide Problem 1 Alloying Steel with More Elements
Phase Diagrams
 Understanding the mechanical property → Indicate phases as function of T, C0, and p
 Able to describe microstructures: → For this course:
◊ Perlite – Binary systems (just 2 components)
◊ Spherodite – Independent variables: T and C0 (p = 1 atm is almost always used)
◊ Bainite
◊ Martensite
 Designing mechanical properties based on cooling
transformation

Modern Material for Transport Vehicles

 Four major groups of engineering material:

◊ Metals and alloys
◊ Ceramics and glasses  Number (#) and types of phases
◊ Plastics and polymers Rule 1: If we know T and C0, then we know # and types of phases present
Metal and Alloys
◊ Modern composites
 Physical properties to consider:
◊ Strength, stiffness, and ductility under static and Explain what happen when pure iron is heated from RT to 1800°C
 Mild, Low Carbon Steels
dynamic loading condition → Liquid (single phase)
At what temperature and composition eutectic, eutectoid, and peritectic reactions occur ◊ Cold Rolled (CR2, CR3, CR4), 220-300 Mpa
◊ Fracture toughness, density, expansion coefficient, ◊ Used for body panels, wheels
electrical conductivity, corrosion, and → Eutectic: 1147°C and 4.30 wt%
→ Eutectoid: 727°C and 0.76 wt% ◊ Easy to cut, bend, machine, weld
environmental stability
→ Peritectic: 1495°C and 0.18 wt%  Medium/High Carbon Alloy Steels
◊ Cold Rolled CR400, Hot Rolled HR400, 400 Mpa
◊ used for drive shafts, gear wheels, energy absorbing members or front/rear rails
Ferrous alloys are classified based on carbon content:  High Strength Steels
Material Selection Consideration  Commercially pure iron ◊ Dual Phase (DP), Martensitic Steels, 600-1000 Mpa
 Composition of phases C < 0.008 wt% C ◊ Used for bearing surface, structural protection application such as side rockets,
Rule 2: If we know T and C0, then we know the composition of each phase → Contain mostly α at room temperature B-Pillar, A-Pillar
 Direct Engineering:  Steels  Ultra High Strength Steels
◊ Performance requirements (strength, electrical 0.008 < C < 2.14 wt% C ◊ Boron Alloy, Press Hardened Steel (PHS), 1100-1500 Mpa
conductivity, temperature, transparency, chemical → Consist α and Fe3C at room temperature ◊ Used for bumper beam, door beam, landing gear (aircraft)
resistance) → Mostly the carbon content is less than 1 wt%
◊ Manufacturability  Cast iron
◊ Production cost 2.14 < C < 6.70 wt% C
 Non-Engineering/Environmental Issues: → Normally the carbon content is less than 4.5 wt%
◊ Pollution Microstructure Forms
◊ Recycling Pearlite → alterna ng layers of α and Fe3C phases
3 Invariant Points
 Why steels cover a wide range of applications and
Eutectic Point (A): L → γ + Fe3C
product forms? Steels can be extruded, drawn,
Eutectoid Point (B): γ → α + Fe3C Phase transformation from Austenite after cooling process will form several possible
stamped, rolled, welded, and forged into many forms
Peritectic Point (C): L + δ → γ Problem 2 (Pop Quiz) microstructure constituents:
 Pearlite → normal cooling - room temperature
 Weight fraction of phases  Bainite → ferrite and cemen te phases formed from the diffusional process
Rule 3: If we know T and C0, then we know the relative amount of each  Spherodite → hea ng steel alloy with perlite/bainite just below eutectoid
phase (given in wt%) temperature (~700°C) for long period of time will form a sphere-like cementite
Phase Equilibria  Martensite (MS) → non-equilibrium single phase structure that results from
diffusionless transformation of austenite

 Solubility Limit → max concentra on for which only a single phase solu on occurs

What is the solubility limit at 20°C

65 wt% sugar
If C0 < 65 wt% sugar: syrup
If C0 > 65 wt% sugar: syrup + sugar

Solutions (solid solutions) - single phase

Mixtures - more than one phase
Solution
a) Composition of Fe3C and ferrite (α)
 Components → the elements or compounds which are present in the mixture
 Phases → the physically and chemically dis nct material regions that result  The Lever Rule
For C0 = 1 %
 Equilibrium → no change with me - fixed composition for each component Tie Line: connects the phases in equilibrium with each other - essentially % 𝐹𝑒 𝐶 = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯× 100% = 14.6%
an isotherm
%𝛼 = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯× 100% = 85.4%

b) The amount of carbide (cementite) in grams that

forms per 100 g of steel
In 100 gr of 99 wt% Fe + 1 wt% C
𝐹𝑒 𝐶 = 14.6 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚
𝛼 = 85.4 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚

 Simple solution system (e.g., Ni-Cu solution) c) The proeutectoid phase is proeutectoid Fe3C
Both metals have
 The same crystal structure
 Similar atomic radius d) The amount of pearlite
 Similar electronegativities
%𝛾 = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯× 100% = 95.96%
(W. Hume - Rothery rules) suggesting
high mutual solubility
Ni and Cu are totally miscible (soluble)
in all proportions (compositions)
The amount of proeutectoid Fe3C
% 𝐹𝑒 𝐶 = 100% − %𝛾
= 100% − 95.96%
= 4.04%