Phase Diagram Basics

In the classes MSE 2034 and 2044, Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering, a topic that is heavily stressed is that of binary phase diagrams. Phase diagrams are maps of the equilibrium phases associated with various combinations of temperature and composition. Binary phase diagrams are two component maps widely used by engineers. They are helpful in predicting phase transformations and the resulting microstructures.

This paper is broken up into four specific sections:

• The Analytical Methods and Basic Concepts section focuses on the equations and theory behind a phase diagram.
  
• The Experimental section explains the procedures used to develop and confirm a phase diagram by evaluating specific materials.
  
• The Examples and Applications section works through sample problems and shows how phase diagrams affect material selection with real world applications.
  
• The Scientific Visualization group brings this paper to life providing the pictures , movies, and interactive clickable maps. On their page you can work through a tutorial on how to create these things.
  

This project is intended to bring a better understanding of phase diagrams and how they are used for those students in the Introduction to Material Science and Engineering classes and whomever else wishes to learn about phase diagrams. There are two ways to view this project: One way is to go through each page in the standard format and the other way is by utilizing frames. Frames requires an updated version of Netscape but provides you, our reader, a much more interactive experience such as a scrolling glossary and a list of sections. To exit frames hit the back button on the netscape toolbar at any point on this site.

A list of references is available as well as a list of similar web sites.