PhaseDiagrams-CityCollegeofSanFrancisco.docVIP

Phase Diagrams These are also know as constitutional diagrams or equilibrium diagrams They are tools that enable one to determine the (equilibrium) microstructure of a system. Typically they are a plot showing the phases present for a set of state variables. (aka maps) Since microstructure correlates to properties, we need to understand how to use them. First some basic vocabulary: component – a distinct chemical substance. phase – a chemically and structurally homogeneous portion of the microstructure. It can be polycrystalline. Examples: Ice water has 1 component and 2 phases. A Cu-Ni alloy has 2 components and 1 phase. Solder has 2 phases, both of which have the 2 components of Pb and SnPearlite has 2 phases, both of which have the 2 components of Fe and Fe3C microstructure – the structure of a material that is subject to direct microscopic observation. It is characterized by the phases present, their proportions and the geometry of their distribution. system - a series of possible alloys consisting of the same components with varying compositions. solute – dissolving species solvent - matrix solubility limit – the amount of solute that the solvent can absorb withoug precipitating out a second phase. solid solution (homogeneous system) - single phase solid with at least 2 components mixture (heterogeneous system) – more than one phase state – a description of the condition of the material. state variable – variables that determine the state of a material. T, P or composition. state point – a point on the equilibrium diagram that corresponds to specific values of the state variables. equilibrium – free energy of the system is at a minimum. free energy – a thermodynamic concept. It is a description of a system that is a function of the system’s internal energy and the system’s entropy. (Internal energy and entropy are also thermodynamic concepts.) metastable – not true equilibrium since free energy is not at a minimum, but it is stable over