Institute of Metals Division - The Interaction Parameter for Solutions of Carbon and Chromium in Austenite at 1000°C (TN)

AS part of a program to investigate the diffusive properties of dilute ternary austenites we have made a determination of the effect of chromium on the activity of carbon in ? iron. Samples of pure iron and Fe-Cr alloys were simultaneously equilibrated at 1000°C with atmospheres of controlled CO/CO2 ratio following the procedures of Darken and Gurry 1 and smith.' The 0.020 in. thick samples were analysed for carbon by microcombustion analyses3 to yield a set of isoacti-vity curves. The latter were converted to activity coefficient (standard state at infinite dilution) plots by combination with Smith's data2 for the activity of carbon in pure iron. Table I shows the compositions of the base alloys used while Fig. 1 shows the experimental results superimposed on a set of curves generated by the relation In?C=6.9NC- 10.7 Ne In the notation of wagner4 the interaction parameter is the second coefficient on the right, Sgr = - 10.7 This can be compared with a rather inaccurate value deduced from the transient equilibrium diffusion data of Kirkaldy et al.' as The authors are indebted to the American Iron and Steel Institute for financial support. This material is condensed from a B.Sc. Thesis submitted to Mc-Master University by R.J.B.