PHASE DIAGRAM
Phase Diagram
A phase diagram is a graphical representation of the different
phases or states of matter that a substance can exist in, as a
function of temperature, pressure and composition. These
diagrams are essential in understanding and predicting the
behavior of materials under different conditions.
Unary phase diagram
Binary phase diagram
Ternary phase diagram
Phase rule
The Gibbs phase rule, also known as the phase rule or phase
equilibrium rule, is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics
that relates the number of phases, components, and degrees of
freedom in a system at equilibrium.
The Gibbs phase rule can be mathematically stated as:
F=C-P+2
where: F is the degrees of freedom, C is the number of
components, and P is the number of phases in the system.
Degrees of Freedom (F): The degrees of freedom in a
thermodynamic system represent the number of independent
variables (e.g., temperature, pressure, composition) that can be
varied while the system remains at equilibrium. In other words, it
is the number of variables that can be changed without altering
the number of phases in the system.
Components (C): Components are the chemically independent
constituents of a system. Each component is a pure substance
that cannot be separated into other substances by any physical
means. Component may be elements, ion or compound. For
example, in a binary mixture of water and ethanol, there are two
components: water and ethanol. Iron and carbon, copper and
nickel.
Phases : a phase is a physically distinct, chemically homogeneous and
mechanically separable region of a system. There should be some
detectable difference in composition, physical state, crystal structure or
properties to differentiate one phase to another. For example, solid,
liquid, and gas phases are common in many systems.
Unary Diagram
A unary phase diagram, also known as a one-component
phase diagram, is a graphical representation of the
different phases that a pure substance can exist in as a
function of temperature and pressure. In an unary
system, there is only one chemical component present.
In a unary phase diagram, the temperature is typically
represented on the horizontal axis, and the pressure is
shown on the vertical axis. The phase diagram can have
multiple curves that separate different phases, and these
curves represent the conditions at which phase
transitions occur.
• The points where the phase boundaries meet are
known as the triple points. At the triple point, all three
phases coexist in equilibrium.
• The unary phase diagram can also include other
regions like the solidus and liquidus curves, which
indicate the temperature and pressure ranges at which
a solid phase and a liquid phase coexist.
Binary Diagram
A binary phase diagram is a graphical representation of
the phase behavior of a two-component system at
various temperatures and pressures. In a binary phase
diagram, the composition of the two components is
typically represented on the horizontal axis, and the
temperature or pressure is shown on the vertical axis
Binary phase diagram are usually drawn at one atm pressure
i.e. pressure is made constant. Phase rule in this case
F = C – P +1
If three phase is in equilibrium (P = 3), the degree of freedom F= 0
If P= 2, then F = 1, P = 1 then F =2.
Types of Binary Phase Diagram
1. Two components completely soluble in the liquid state :
Type I– and are completely soluble in the solid state (Isomorphous
system)
Type II - and are completely insoluble in the solid state (Eutectic
system)
Type III - and are partially soluble in the solid state (Eutectic system)
Type IV – Peritectic Reaction
Type V – Syntectic Reaction
2. Two components are partially soluble in the liquid state
(monotectic reaction)
3. Two components are insoluble in the liquid as well as solid state.
4. Diagram showing following solid state transformation
(a) The eutectoid reaction
(b) The peritectoid reaction
Solid Solution System
Cooling curve for pure metal
