Abstract
This chapter discusses the concept of alloys and describes phase equilibria at a given temperature. It distinguishes between constituents and phases, and it discusses the composition and the relative equilibrium. It also describes interfacial energy. The properties of pure materials are frequently of limited or no interest for technological applications. An alloy is a combination of two or more metallic and, possibly, nonmetallic elements. An alloy generally consists of several microscopic or nanoscopic phases of different composition and structure that contribute synergistically to the material properties. An alloy is composed of two or more constituents and contains one or more phases. A phase is a part of the system in which the composition and the atomic arrangement are fixed. In a system in equilibrium, each phase has a fixed composition, which is entirely homogeneous. In nonequilibrium systems, which are frequently encountered in materials, the composition can vary as a function of time and position within the material.
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