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.'

Related Topics:
Element - Melting point - Eutectic point - Phase diagram

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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.

Related Topics:
Temperature - Liquid - Phase - Solid

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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.

Related Topics:
Lamellar structure - Dendritic - Amorphous solid

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