1. Thermodynamics and kinetics of solid-state phase evolution

When considering a treatment for an alloy, the first step is always to identify the different possible phases for thermodynamic equilibrium conditions in the various accessible thermal ranges.

These equilibria, presented in particular in [M 70] , ref. , are illustrated in the form of phase diagrams (figure a). The stability ranges shown in these diagrams are generally sufficient to indicate the possibilities of a given treatment (e.g. structural hardening), or to guide compositional evolutions. The phase diagram of an alloy is the starting point and safeguard for heat treatments.