Material Science Practice Test: Phase Diagrams — Flashcards

Phase Diagrams topics include: Phase diagrams, unary and binary phase diagrams, eutectic systems, eutectoid and peritectic reactions, gibbs phase rule and iron carbon systems.

A phase diagram is a graphical representation of the physical states of a substance under different conditions of temperature and pressure. They are also called constitutional diagrams or equilibrium diagrams. 

Here are some things phase diagrams can show:
How phases change as a function of temperature, pressure, phase composition, or combinations of these variables
The thermodynamic stability of compounds
Predicted equilibrium chemical reactions
Processing conditions for synthesizing materials 

A typical phase diagram has pressure on the y-axis and temperature on the x-axis. As you cross the lines or curves on the phase diagram, a phase change occurs. 

Phase diagrams are divided into three areas, which represent the solid, liquid, and gaseous states of the substance.