Phase Equilibria: Solubility Limit

• Solution – solid, liquid, or gas solutions, single phase

• Mixture – more than one phase Adapted from Fig. 9.1,
Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

Sugar/Water Phase Diagram

• Solubility Limit: 100
Maximum concentration for Solubility

Temperature (ºC)
which only a single phase 80 Limit L
solution exists. (liquid)
60 +
L
Question: What is the 40 (liquid solution S
solubility limit for sugar in i.e., syrup) (solid
water at 20ºC? 20 sugar)

Answer: 65 wt% sugar.

0 20 40 6065 80 100
At 20ºC, if C < 65 wt% sugar: syrup

Sugar
Water

C = Composition (wt% sugar)

At 20ºC, if C > 65 wt% sugar:
syrup + sugar Chapter 9 - 1
 Components and Phases
• Components:
The elements or compounds which are present in the alloy
(e.g., Al and Cu)
• Phases:
The physically and chemically distinct material regions
that form (e.g., a and b).

Aluminum- b (lighter
Copper
phase)
Alloy

a (darker
Adapted from chapter-
opening photograph,
phase)
Chapter 9, Callister,
Materials Science &
Engineering: An
Introduction, 3e.

Chapter 9 - 2
 Effect of Temperature & Composition
• Altering T can change # of phases: path A to B.
• Altering C can change # of phases: path B to D.
B (100ºC,C = 70) D (100ºC,C = 90)
1 phase 2 phases
100

80 L
Temperature (ºC)

(liquid)
water- 60 +
sugar L S
system (liquid solution (solid
40 i.e., syrup) sugar)
20 A (20ºC,C = 70)
2 phases
Adapted from Fig. 9.1, 0
Callister & Rethwisch 8e. 0 20 40 60 70 80 100
C = Composition (wt% sugar)
Chapter 9 - 3
 Criteria for Solid Solubility

Simple system (e.g., Ni-Cu solution)

Crystal electroneg r (nm)

Structure
Ni FCC 1.9 0.1246
Cu FCC 1.8 0.1278

• Both have the same crystal structure (FCC) and have

similar electronegativities and atomic radii (W. Hume –
Rothery rules) suggesting high mutual solubility.
• Ni and Cu are totally soluble in one another for all proportions.

Chapter 9 - 4
 Phase Diagrams
• Indicate phases as a function of T, C, and P.
• For this course:
- binary systems: just 2 components.
- independent variables: T and C (P = 1 atm is almost always used).
T(ºC)
Phase
1600 • 2 phases:
Diagram L (liquid)
1500
for Cu-Ni L (liquid) a (FCC solid solution)
system 1400 • 3 different phase fields:
L
1300 L+a
a
1200 a Adapted from Fig. 9.3(a), Callister &
Rethwisch 8e. (Fig. 9.3(a) is adapted from
1100
(FCC solid Phase Diagrams of Binary Nickel Alloys,
P. Nash (Ed.), ASM International,
solution) Materials Park, OH (1991).
1000
0 20 40 60 80 100 wt% Ni Chapter 9 - 5
 Isomorphous Binary Phase Diagram
• Phase diagram: T(ºC)
Cu-Ni system. 1600

• System is: 1500 L (liquid) Cu-Ni

-- binary phase
i.e., 2 components: 1400
diagram
Cu and Ni.
1300
-- isomorphous
i.e., complete 1200 a
solubility of one
component in 1100
(FCC solid
another; a phase solution)
field extends from 1000
0 to 100 wt% Ni.
0 20 40 60 80 100 wt% Ni
Adapted from Fig. 9.3(a), Callister &
Rethwisch 8e. (Fig. 9.3(a) is adapted from
Phase Diagrams of Binary Nickel Alloys,
P. Nash (Ed.), ASM International,
Materials Park, OH (1991).
Chapter 9 - 6
 Phase Diagrams:
Determination of phase(s) present
• Rule 1: If we know T and Co, then we know:
-- which phase(s) is (are) present.
T(ºC)
• Examples: 1600
A(1100ºC, 60 wt% Ni): L (liquid)
1 phase: a

B (1250ºC,35)
1500
Cu-Ni
B(1250ºC, 35 wt% Ni): 1400 phase
2 phases: L + a diagram
1300 a
(FCC solid
1200
Adapted from Fig. 9.3(a), Callister &
solution)
Rethwisch 8e. (Fig. 9.3(a) is adapted from 1100 A(1100ºC,60)
Phase Diagrams of Binary Nickel Alloys,
P. Nash (Ed.), ASM International,
Materials Park, OH (1991). 1000
0 20 40 60 80 100 wt% Ni
Chapter 9 - 7
 Phase Diagrams:
Determination of phase compositions
• Rule 2: If we know T and C0, then we can determine:
-- the composition of each phase. Cu-Ni
T(ºC) system
• Examples:
TA A
Consider C0 = 35 wt% Ni tie line
At TA = 1320ºC: 1300 L (liquid)
Only Liquid (L) present B
CL = C0 ( = 35 wt% Ni) TB
a
At TD = 1190ºC:
1200 D (solid)
Only Solid (a) present TD
Ca = C0 ( = 35 wt% Ni)
20 3032 35 4043 50
At TB = 1250ºC: CL C0 Ca wt% Ni
Both a and L present Adapted from Fig. 9.3(a), Callister &
Rethwisch 8e. (Fig. 9.3(a) is adapted from
CL = C liquidus ( = 32 wt% Ni) Phase Diagrams of Binary Nickel Alloys, P.
Nash (Ed.), ASM International, Materials
Ca = C solidus ( = 43 wt% Ni) Park, OH (1991).

Chapter 9 - 8
 Phase Diagrams:
Determination of phase weight fractions
• Rule 3: If we know T and C0, then can determine:
-- the weight fraction of each phase. Cu-Ni
• Examples: T(ºC) system
Consider C0 = 35 wt% Ni TA A
tie line
At TA : Only Liquid (L) present 1300 L (liquid)
WL = 1.00, Wa = 0 B
At TD : Only Solid ( a) present TB R S
a
WL = 0, Wa = 1.00
1200 D (solid)
At TB : Both a and L present TD
S 43  35
WL 
20 3032 35 40 43 50
  0.73 CL C 0 Ca wt% Ni
R +S 43  32
Adapted from Fig. 9.3(a), Callister &
Rethwisch 8e. (Fig. 9.3(a) is adapted from
R
Wa 
Phase Diagrams of Binary Nickel Alloys, P.
= 0.27 Nash (Ed.), ASM International, Materials
R +S Park, OH (1991).

Chapter 9 - 9
 The Lever Rule
• Tie line – connects the phases in equilibrium with
each other – also sometimes called an isotherm
T(ºC) What fraction of each phase?
tie line
Think of the tie line as a lever
1300 L (liquid)
(teeter-totter)
B
TB ML Ma
a
1200 (solid)
R S

20 30CL R S
C0 40 Ca 50

wt% Ni Ma x S  ML x R
Adapted from Fig. 9.3(b),
Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

ML S C  C0 R C  CL
WL    a Wa   0
M L  M a R  S C a  CL R  S C a  CL
 Chapter 9 - 10
 Ex: Cooling of a Cu-Ni Alloy
• Phase diagram: T(ºC) L (liquid) L: 35wt%Ni
Cu-Ni system. Cu-Ni
system
• Consider 130 0 A
L: 35 wt% Ni
microstuctural a: 46 wt% Ni B
35 46
changes that 32 C 43
accompany the D
24 36 L: 32 wt% Ni
cooling of a a: 43 wt% Ni
C0 = 35 wt% Ni alloy 120 0 E
L: 24 wt% Ni
a: 36 wt% Ni
a
(solid)

110 0
20 30 35 40 50
Adapted from Fig. 9.4, C0 wt% Ni
Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
Chapter 9 - 11
 Cored vs Equilibrium Structures
• Ca changes as we solidify.
• Cu-Ni case: First a to solidify has Ca = 46 wt% Ni.
Last a to solidify has Ca = 35 wt% Ni.
• Slow rate of cooling: • Fast rate of cooling:
Equilibrium structure Cored structure
Uniform Ca:
35 wt% Ni First a to solidify:
46 wt% Ni
Last a to solidify:
< 35 wt% Ni

Chapter 9 - 12
 Mechanical Properties: Cu-Ni System
• Effect of solid solution strengthening on:
-- Tensile strength (TS) -- Ductility (%EL)
Tensile Strength (MPa)

60

Elongation (%EL)
%EL for pure Cu
400 50 %EL for
TS for pure Ni
pure Ni 40
300
TS for pure Cu 30
200 20
0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100
Cu Ni Cu Ni
Composition, wt% Ni Composition, wt% Ni
Adapted from Fig. 9.6(a), Adapted from Fig. 9.6(b),
Callister & Rethwisch 8e. Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

Chapter 9 - 13
 Binary-Eutectic Systems
has a special composition
2 components with a min. melting T.
Cu-Ag
T(ºC) system
Ex.: Cu-Ag system 1200
• 3 single phase regions L (liquid)
(L, a, b) 1000
• Limited solubility: a L + a 779ºC L+b b
a: mostly Cu TE 800 8.0 71.9 91.2
b: mostly Ag 600
• TE : No liquid below TE ab
• CE : Composition at 400
temperature TE 200
0 20 40 60 CE 80 100
• Eutectic reaction C, wt% Ag
L(CE) a(CaE) + b(CbE) Adapted from Fig. 9.7,
Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
cooling
L(71.9 wt% Ag) a(8.0 wt% Ag)  b(91.2 wt% Ag)
Chapter 9 - 14
heating
 EX 1: Pb-Sn Eutectic System
• For a 40 wt% Sn-60 wt% Pb alloy at 150ºC, determine:
-- the phases present Pb-Sn
Answer: a + b T(ºC) system
-- the phase compositions
300
Answer: Ca = 11 wt% Sn L (liquid)
Cb = 99 wt% Sn
-- the relative amount a L+ a
200 183ºC L+b b
of each phase 18.3 61.9 97.8
Answer: 150
S Cb - C0 R S
100
W =
a R+S
=
Cb - Ca a+b
99 - 40 59
= = = 0.67
99 - 11 88 0 11 20 40 60 80 99100
C0 - Ca Ca C0 Cb
Wb = R = C, wt% Sn
R+S Cb - Ca Adapted from Fig. 9.8,
Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
40 - 11 29
= = = 0.33 Chapter 9 - 15
99 - 11 88
 EX 2: Pb-Sn Eutectic System
• For a 40 wt% Sn-60 wt% Pb alloy at 220ºC, determine:
-- the phases present: Pb-Sn
Answer: a + L T(ºC) system
-- the phase compositions
300
Answer: Ca = 17 wt% Sn L (liquid)
CL = 46 wt% Sn L+a
-- the relative amount 220
200
a R S L+b b
of each phase 183ºC
Answer:
100
Wa =
CL - C0
=
46 - 40 a+b
CL - Ca 46 - 17
6 0 17 20 40 46 60 80 100
= = 0.21 Ca C0 CL
29 C, wt% Sn
Adapted from Fig. 9.8,
C0 - Ca 23 Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
WL = = = 0.79
CL - Ca 29
Chapter 9 - 16