INTRODUCTION
GETTING STARTED
With reference to the hypothetical binary diagram the following terms are indicated:
- Eutectic (Point E) - lowest temperature point on a T-X (Isobaric = constant P) diagram at which liquid coexists with solid.
On this diagram the eutectic is the point of intersection between the liquidus and solidus.
- Liquidus - surface on a phase diagram above which no solids exist.
- Solidus - surface or line on a phase diagram below which no liquid exists. In this case the solidus is a straight line, representing a constant T = isotherm.
In this system the two components which define this system are A and B. From these two components, three phases can coexist - Solid A, Solid B and Liquid. The two phases A and B, both of fixed composition, i.e. the phase compositions are not part of a solid solution series and can be determined using analytical techniques. Below the solidus only solids are present, in this case mixtures of A and B.
