Knowledge Base

Fundamentals

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DI
Fundamentals

Dislocations in Metals — Edge, Screw and Mixed Types

Complete guide to dislocations in metals. Covers edge and screw dislocation types, Burgers vector, dislocation density, Taylor equation, strengthening mechanisms, and Frank-Read multiplication sources.

PO
Fundamentals

Point Defects in Metals — Vacancies, Interstitials and Substitutional Atoms

Complete guide to point defects in metals. Covers Schottky vacancies, interstitial and substitutional atoms, equilibrium vacancy concentration, solid solution types, and role of defects in diffusion and strengthening.

FE
Fundamentals

Ferrite in Steel — Alpha Iron: BCC Structure, Properties and Microstructure Role

Complete guide to ferrite (α-iron) in steel. Covers BCC crystal structure, 0.022%C solubility limit, mechanical properties, proeutectoid ferrite, Hall-Petch strengthening, and role in structural steels.

AU
Fundamentals

Austenite in Steel — FCC Iron, Carbon Solubility and Its Heat Treatment Role

Complete guide to austenite (γ-iron) in steel. Covers FCC structure, 2.14%C solubility, austenitising temperatures, retained austenite, austenite stability, and the central role of austenite in all steel heat treatments.

CE
Fundamentals

Cementite (Fe₃C) — Iron Carbide: Structure, Hardness and Role in Steel

Complete guide to cementite (Fe₃C) in steel. Covers orthorhombic structure, 6.67%C composition, extreme hardness, role in pearlite and hypereutectoid steels, network cementite embrittlement, and spheroidise annealing.

IR
Fundamentals

Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram — Complete Guide with All Zones, Lines and Points Explained

Complete technical guide to the iron-carbon (Fe-Fe₃C) phase diagram. Covers all phases, critical lines A1 A3 Acm, eutectoid and eutectic points, lever rule, steel classifications, and heat treatment applications. Includes annotated SVG diagram.

TT
Fundamentals

TTT Diagram Explained — Time-Temperature-Transformation in Steel

Complete guide to TTT (Time-Temperature-Transformation) diagrams. Covers the C-curves, pearlite and bainite noses, Ms/Mf martensite lines, critical cooling rate, austempering, martempering, and how alloying elements shift the curves.

CC
Fundamentals

CCT Diagram vs TTT Diagram — Reading Continuous Cooling Transformation Diagrams

Complete guide to CCT (Continuous Cooling Transformation) diagrams. Covers differences from TTT, critical cooling rate, quench media comparison table, HAZ prediction for welding, and how to read a CCT diagram step by step.

BC
Fundamentals

BCC, FCC and HCP Crystal Structures — Properties, Differences and Engineering Examples

Complete guide to BCC, FCC, and HCP crystal structures. Covers atomic packing factor, coordination number, slip systems, ductile-to-brittle transition, and iron’s allotropic transformation — the basis of all steel heat treatment.

MI
Fundamentals

Miller Indices — Indexing Crystal Planes and Directions in Metals

Complete guide to Miller indices. Learn to index crystal planes (hkl) and directions [uvw] in cubic and hexagonal metals with step-by-step examples. Essential for XRD, EBSD, and slip system analysis.