Ferrite, pearlite, austenite and cementite: reading the iron-carbon diagram

What this note covers

1. Read the steel portion and keep the carbon convention explicit
2. Ferrite, austenite and cementite play different roles
3. Pearlite is the product of a eutectoid transformation
4. Hypoeutectoid steel contains proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite
5. Hypereutectoid steel forms a different proeutectoid constituent
6. Link composition and processing to an application cautiously
7. Worked slow-cooling estimate: pearlite fraction in hypoeutectoid steel
8. Worked classification repair: eutectic and eutectoid are different reactions

8 sections · 10 key terms & formulas · 6 common mistakes