Ledeburite- (L) is a eutectic compound formed from a liquid phase with a
carbon content of 4.3%. Ledeburite is a mechanical mixture of cementite and
austenite from 1147°C to 727°C, and cementite and pearlite from 727°C to room
temperature. In order to distinguish between these mixtures, ledeburite from 1147°
to 727°C is denoted by L
A
, and ledeburite below 727°C is denoted by L
'
, that is, L
A
is austenite, L
'
is pearlite ledeburite.
In the diagram (Fig. 19), the line
ABCD is the liquidus line, and the line AHECF is the solidus line. As can be seen from the state diagram, primary crystallization of
alloys occurs between the liquidus and solidus lines.
Secondary crystallization of alloys occurs below the solidus curve and is
associated with different solubility of carbon in austenite and ferrite structures.
Alloys with a carbon content of up to 0.8% are pre-eutectoid, alloys with a
carbon content of 0.8% are eutectoid steels, and alloys with a carbon content of 0.8
to 2.14% are post-eutectoid steels. called lats. Pre-eutectoid steels consist of ferrite
and pearlite structures, and as the amount of carbon in their composition increases,
so does the amount of pearlite.
Pre-eutectoid steels are structural steels, and post-eutectoid steels (Fig. 20, v,
g) are tool steels.
The microstructure of post-eutectoid steels depends on the amount of carbon,
in which, with an increase in carbon, the thickness of the cementite type increases,
and, on the contrary, as the amount of carbon decreases, approaching eutectoid
steels, it becomes difficult to distinguish whether it is ferrite or cementite. In this
case, the microslide is processed in a solution of sodium nitrate salt (NaNO
3
), as a
152
result, the white cementite type in the microslide becomes brown, while the ferrite
remains white.