Name the microstructural products of eutectoid iron-carbon alloy \((0.76\) wt \(\%\) C) specimens that are first completely transformed to austenite, then cooled to room temperature at the following rates: (a) \(1^{\circ} \mathrm{C} / \mathrm{s}\) (c) \(50^{\circ} \mathrm{C} / \mathrm{s}\) (b) \(20^{\circ} \mathrm{C} / \mathrm{s}\) (d) \(175^{\circ} \mathrm{C} / \mathrm{s}\)

Short Answer

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Answer: The final microstructure of the eutectoid alloy will depend on the cooling rate as follows: - At 1°C/s cooling rate, the microstructure will be a pearlite mixture. - At 50°C/s cooling rate, the microstructure will be a mixture of pearlite and bainite. - At 20°C/s cooling rate, the microstructure will be mainly bainitic with some residual pearlite. - At 175°C/s cooling rate, the microstructure will be martensite.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the cooling process

We must first understand that when an iron-carbon alloy is completely transformed into austenite and then cooled, various microstructures will form depending on the cooling rate. The iron-carbon phase diagram helps us identify the transformations that occur during the cooling process. The eutectoid reaction, which involves austenite transforming into ferrite and cementite, happens at 727°C for a 0.76 wt% C alloy.
02

Analyze microstructure for the cooling rate of 1°C/s

For a cooling rate of 1°C/s, the alloy will have enough time for the eutectoid reaction to happen entirely during the cooling process. The final microstructure will be a pearlite mixture.
03

Analyze microstructure for the cooling rate of 50°C/s

At a cooling rate of 50°C/s, the alloy will cool rapidly, but not fast enough to allow a complete martensitic transformation. The final microstructure will be a mixture of pearlite and bainite.
04

Analyze microstructure for the cooling rate of 20°C/s

For a cooling rate of 20°C/s, the rate at which the alloy cools is faster than in the previous case. The cooling rate is enough to result in a predominant bainitic transformation. The final microstructure will be mainly bainitic with some residual pearlite.
05

Analyze microstructure for the cooling rate of 175°C/s

The cooling rate of 175°C/s is extremely fast, causing the austenite to transform into martensite without enough time for diffusion-controlled transformations like the formation of pearlite or bainite. The final microstructure will be martensite.

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