Dissemination of IT for the Promotion of Materials Science (DoITPoMS)

DoITPoMS Micrograph Library Full Record for Micrograph 13

Full Record for Micrograph 13

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Micrograph no
13
Brief description
Cu 21, Sn 79 (wt%), peritectic transformation
Keywords
alloy Link to MATTER Glossary entry for alloy, bronze Link to MATTER Glossary entry for bronze, copper, metal, peritectic reaction Link to MATTER Glossary entry for peritectic reaction, tin
Categories
Metal or alloy
System
Cu-Sn   Link to phase diagram
Composition
Cu 21, Sn 79 (wt%)
Standard codes
Reaction
Processing
As-cast (sand mould)
Applications
Sample preparation
Technique
Reflected light microscopy
Length bar
80 μm
Further information
This microstructure is generated via a peritectic reaction (L+e = eta), which bears some similarities to the more familiar eutectic reaction (L = a + b). Upon cooling from the liquid phase field, primary e is formed, which can be seen here as a slightly darker phase than the sheath of h surrounding it. The h sheath is the product of a peritectic reaction between e and liquid. The peritectic reaction rarely goes to completion, since the formation of h around the e phase separates it from the liquid and inhibits further growth. Eventually, the remaining liquid transforms by a eutectic reaction to h and Sn. In this micrograph, the constituents of the eutectic mixture cannot be distinguished and it appears uniformly dark.
Contributor
Prof T W Clyne
Organisation
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge
Date
25/10/01
Licence for re-use
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
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