Question

The mass fractions of total ferrite and total cementite in an iron–carbon alloy are 0.91 and 0.09, respectively. Is this a hypoeutectoid or hypereutectoid alloy? Why?

Answer 1

Answer:

hypoeutectoid

Explanation:

ferrite:  pure form of iron

cementite: It is iron carbide with 93.3% iron and 6.67% carbon

hypoeutectoid: Eutectoid steel with carbon fraction less than 0.8%

hypereutectoid: Eutectoid Steel with carbon content more than 0.8%

For the mentioned iron-carbide alloy,

% of carbon in iron-carbide alloy= percentage of cementite × percentage of carbon in cementite

% of carbon in iron-carbide alloy= 0.09× 0.0667

                                                     = 0.6%

so the alloy is hypoeutectoid