Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys

Revised to reflect recent developments in the field, Phase Transformation in Metals and Alloys, Fourth Edition, continues to be the most authoritative and approachable resource on the subject. It supplies a comprehensive overview of specific types of phase transformations, supplemented by practical case studies of engineering alloys. The book’s unique presentation links a basic understanding of theory with application in a gradually progressive yet exciting manner. Based on the authors’ teaching notes, the text takes a pedagogical approach and provides examples for applications and problems that can be readily used for exercises.

• 40% of the figures and 30% of the text
• Insights provided by numerical modelling techniques such as ab initio, phase field, cellular automaton, and molecular dynamics
• Insights from the application of advanced experimental techniques, such as high-energy X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, combined with electron backscattered diffraction
• New treatment of ternary phase diagrams and solubility products
• The concept of paraequilibrium in systems containing highly mobile interstitial elements
• Thermodynamics of grain boundaries and the influence of segregation on grain boundary diffusion
• Reference to software tools for solving diffusion problems in multicomponent systems
• Introduction to concepts related to coincident site lattices and methods for determining the dislocation content of grain boundaries and interfaces
• Updated treatment of coherency and interface structure including the important fcc–bcc interfaces
• Treatment of metallic glasses expanded to cover critical cooling rate
• Austin–Rickets equation introduced as an alternative to the Avrami equation in the case of precipitation kinetics
• Discussion of the effects of overlap in nucleation, growth and coarsening
• Discussion of pearlite and bainite transformations updated
• Entirely new and extensive treatment of diffusionless martensitic transformations covering athermal and thermally activated martensite in ferrous systems as well as shape memory, superelasticity and rubber-like behavior in ordered nonferrous alloys
• New practical applications covering spinodal alloys, fir-tree structures in aluminum castings, Al–Cu–Li aerospace alloys, superelastic and shape memory alloys, quenched and partitioned steels, advanced high-strength steels and martensitic stainless steels
• Each chapter now concludes with a summary of the main points
• References to scientific publications and suggestions for further reading updated to reflect experimental and computational advances

Aimed at students studying metallurgy and materials science and engineering, the Fourth Edition retains the previous editions’ popular easy-to-follow style and excellent mix of basic and advanced information, making it ideal for those who are new to the field.

A new solutions manual and PowerPoint figure slides are available to adopting professors.

David Porter studied materials science in Cambridge obtaining his Ph.D. in 1976. He subsequently moved to the University of Luleå, where he applied electron microscopy to materials research and taught courses on electron microscopy and phase transformations. He subsequently worked in the research and development departments of the Norwegian aluminum company Årdal og Sunndal Verk and the steel producers Rautaruukki in Finland, and Fundia Special Bar in Sweden. In 2011 he returned to academia as professor of physical metallurgy at the University of Oulu where he has been professor emeritus since 2019.