Thermodynamic Description of Ternary Fe-B-X Systems. Part 7: Fe-B-C

Thermodynamic description of the Fe-B-C system in its iron-rich corner is developed in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Ni, Mn, Si, Ti, V, C) database. The thermodynamic parameters of the binary sub-systems, Fe-B, Fe-C and B-C, are taken from earlier assessments modifying the B-C description. The parameters of the Fe-B-C system are optimized in this study using experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data from the literature. Liquid, beta-rhombo-B and graphite phases are described using the substitutional solution model, while the ferrite (bcc), the austenite (fcc), the cementite (M₃C) and the M₂₃C₆ phases are described with the sublattice model and the borides, Fe₂B, FeB and B₄C, are treated as stoichiometric phases. A good correlation was obtained between the calculated and the experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data. The description is recommended to be used at the composition region of wt% C + wt% B < 15 and at temperatures below 2700°C.