In the physical sciences, a phase is a region of space (a thermodynamic

system), throughout which all physical properties of a material are

essentially uniform.
[1]
Examples of physical properties include density,
index of refraction, and chemical composition. A simple description is that a
phase is a region of material that is chemically uniform, physically distinct,
and (often) mechanically separable. In a system consisting of ice and
water in a glass jar, the ice cubes are one phase, the water is a second
phase, and the humid air over the water is a third phase. The glass of the
jar is another separate phase.
The term phase is sometimes used as a synonym for state of matter. Also,
the term phase is sometimes used to refer to a set of equilibrium states
demarcated in terms of state variables such as pressure and temperature
by a phase boundary on a phase diagram. Because phase boundaries
relate to changes in the organization of matter, such as a change from
liquid to solid or a more subtle change from one crystal structure to
another, this latter usage is similar to the use of "phase" as a synonym for
state of matter.
What Is Phase
Phase (matter), is state of matter
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0
1000



1600
1400
1200
800
600
400
200
0
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

i
n

C

910C-Ac3
1147C
Ac1-727C
1495C
1539C
2.11
0.022
0.008
0.8
4.3
0.1
0.54
0.18
L + Austenite
- Ferrite
Austenite ()
Liquid Iron+ Cementite
Ledeburite + Cementite
Ledeburite + Cementite
Austenite + Cementite
+ Ledeburite
Ferrite
+
Pearlite

Pearlite
+
Cementite
Pearlite + Cementite
+ Ledeburite
1
0
0

%

P
e
a
r
l
i
t
e

1
0
0

%

L
e
d
e
b
u
r
i
t
e

+ Fe3C
+
Liquid Iron + -Fe
-Fe
+ -Fe
Eutectic Point
Peritectic Point
Eutectoid Point
Steel
Cast Iron
Carbon %
It is also known as (g ) gamma-iron,
which is an interstitial solid solution of
carbon dissolved in iron with a face
centered cubic crystal (F.C.C) structure.
Average properties of austenite are:
Tensile strength 150,000 psi.
Elongation 10 % in 2 in gage
length.
Hardness Rockwell C 40
Toughness High
Austenite is normally unstable at room
temperature. Under certain conditions it is
possible to obtain austenite at room
temperature.
Austenite ( Y Iron)
It is also known as (a ) alpha -iron,
which is an interstitial solid solution
of a small amount of carbon dissolved
in iron with a Body Centered Cubic
(B.C.C.) crystal structure. It is the
softest structure on the iron-iron
carbide diagram. Average properties
are:
Tensile Strength 40,000 psi
Elongation 40 % in 2 in gage length
Hardness Less than Rockwell C 0 or less
than Rockwell B 90.
Toughness Low
Alfa Ferrite
It is the eutectoid mixture containing
0.83 % Carbon and is formed at 723C
on very slow cooling. It is very fine
platelike or lamellar mixture of ferrite
and cementite. The structure of
pearlite includes a white matrix
(ferritic background) which includes
thin plates of cementite. Average
properties are:
Toughness Low
Tensile
Strength
120,000 psi
Elongation 20 % in 2 in gage length
Hardness Rockwell C 20 or BHN 250-300
Pearlite
It is the eutectic mixture of austenite and cementite. It
contains 4.3 % Carbon and represents the eutectic of
cast iron. Ledeburite exists when the carbon content is
greater than 2 %, which represents the dividing line on
the equilibrium diagram between steel and cast iron.
Ledeburite ( Y +Fe
3
C) or (P + Fe
3
C)


(d ) DELTA IRON:

Delta iron exists between 1401 and 1495 C. It may exist in
combination with the melt to about 0.50 % Carbon, in
combination with austenite to about 0.18 % Carbon and in a
single phase state out to about 0.10 % carbon. Delta iron has
the Body Centered Cubic (B.C.C) crystal structure and is
magnetic.