Eutectic

A eutectic or eutectic mixture is a mixture of two or more elements which has a lower melting point than any of its constituents. The proper ratios of components to obtain a eutectic alloy is identified by the eutectic point on a phase diagram. The term comes from the Greek 'eutektos', meaning 'easily melted.'

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The phase diagram at right displays a simple binary system composed of two components, A and B, which has a eutectic point. The phase diagram plots relative concentrations of A and B along the X-axis, and temperature along the Y-axis. The eutectic point is the point at which the liquid phase borders directly on the solid α + β phases (the solid forms of pure A and B), representing the minimum melting temperature of any possible alloy of A and B. The temperature that corresponds to this point is known as the eutectic temperature. Not all binary system alloys have a eutectic point.

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Solid products of a eutectic transformation can often be identified by their lamellar structure, as opposed to the dendritic structures commonly seen in non-eutectic solidification. The same conditions that force the material to form lamellae can instead form an amorphous solid if pushed to an extreme.

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Element: The term element may mean:...

Melting point: The melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. When considered as the temperature of the reverse change from liquid to solid, it is referred to as the freezing point....

Eutectic point: REDIRECT Eutectic system...