Phases in “Iron - Carbon“ alloys / Ferrite, Austenite and Cementite

Playlist “Materials science“ Alloys of the “iron - carbon“ system - steels and cast irons have three main phases, i.e. structural components: - Ferrite, which got its name from the Latin word “Ferrum“ - iron. The mechanical properties of Ferrite are close to those of technically pure iron. Ferrite is relatively soft, plastic and highly ferromagnetic at temperatures below 768-770 °C. Under the microscope, Ferrite grains have a light shade; - Austenite, which got its name in honor of the English scientist Robert Austen, who studied the structural characteristics of alloys of the “iron-carbon“ system. Austenite is non-magnetic and has low mechanical characteristics. Its grains under the microscope also have a light shade, but different from the Ferrite grains; - Cementite, which is iron carbide with the formula Fe3C. Carbon concentration in Cementite is %. The crystal structur