Phase relationships in the iron-rich Fe-Cr-Ni-C system at solidification temperatures

The phase relationships between the liquid phase and the primary solid phases were investigated in the iron-rich comer of the Fe-Cr-Ni-C system as part of a larger study of the Fe-Cr-Mn-Ni-C system. The investigation consisted of measurements of tie-lines for the liquid-delta (bcc) and the liquid-gamma (fcc) equilibria in the iron-rich corner of the Gibbs tetrahedron bounded by 0 to 25 wt Pct Cr, 0 to 25 wt Pct Ni, and 1.2 wt Pct C (bal. Fe). The temperature ranged from 1811 to 1750 K. Compositions for the tie-lines were obtained from liquid-solid equilibrium couples and the temperatures of the equilibrium, by differential thermal analysis (DTA). A mathematical procedure was employed on the experimental data to obtain parameters for a thermodynamic model of the alloy system. This involved minimization of an error function. The details of this analysis are discussed fully in this paper. Calculations by the model employing the “best-set” parameters are in good agreement with the experimental results. The usefulness of the model is demonstrated by calculation of the three-phase equilibrium in the quaternary system as a function of temperature. Formerly Research Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is Senior Research Engineer, Armco Inc., Middletown, OH 45043