Material Microstructure and Phase Equilibria

Abstract

In the solid state, atoms combine in a manner that ensures minimal internal energy by formation of a regular, long-range repetitive space lattice known as a crystal. Regular space lattices do not occur in amorphous structures as the atoms tend to be arranged in non-repeating units. The structural arrangements of the non-crystalline solids represent high internal energies. Phase diagram provides information about the phase structures of a particular system. There are three parameters that control and affect phase structure which are: temperature, pressure, and composition. Phase diagrams are constructed when various combinations of these parameters are plotted against one another.