Eutectic microstructure 2026-10-20
A two-solid microstructure formed by the coupled transformation of liquid at a eutectic point. Lamellae and rods are common morphologies. A hypoeutectic alloy can contain both primary crystals and a eutectic microstructure; those microconstituents are not the same accounting categories as its total phase fractions.
At , one line is tangent to all three Gibbs free energy curves at approximately for (Bi), for liquid, and for . These three phases can coexist at the eutectic point. Between the two solid compositions, the equilibrium phase fractions depend on how much liquid has already transformed; exactly at the invariant temperature, the overall composition alone does not fix all three fractions. At the eutectic overall composition, cooling just below the temperature eliminates the liquid and leaves the two solids.