Total Insolubility and Solubility in Alloys

The solubility between two metals is analyzed as a function of the affinity between them and the possibility of forming, during solidification, intermetallic, eutectic, or total solid solutions, exemplified with different phase diagrams of alloys of these types. Interstitial solid solutions are presented in a graphic fashion, analyzing interatomic spacing, coordination index, and deformation of crystalline lattices. The shape of the cooling curves used to sketch phase diagrams is presented and the lever rule to calculate the fraction of phases present in an alloy is explained through examples. Also, partition coefficient which is a linear approximation to estimate amounts of liquid and solid during solidification can result in heterogeneities of the forming crystals.