
A eutectic system or eutectic mixture ( ) is a
homogeneous mixture that has a
melting point
The melting point (or, rarely, liquefaction point) of a substance is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. At the melting point the solid and liquid phase exist in equilibrium. The melting point of a substance depends ...
lower than those of the constituents.
The lowest possible melting point over all of the
mixing ratios of the constituents is called the ''eutectic temperature''. On a
phase diagram, the eutectic temperature is seen as the eutectic point (see plot on the right).
Non-eutectic mixture ratios would have different melting temperatures for their different constituents, since one component's
lattice will melt at a lower temperature than the other's. Conversely, as a non-eutectic mixture cools down, each of its components would
solidify (form a lattice) at a different temperature, until the entire mass is solid.
Not all
binary alloys have eutectic points, since the
valence electron
In chemistry and physics, a valence electron is an electron in the outer shell associated with an atom, and that can participate in the formation of a chemical bond if the outer shell is not closed. In a single covalent bond, a shared pair f ...
s of the component species are not always compatible, in any mixing ratio, to form a new type of joint crystal lattice. For example, in the silver-gold system the melt temperature (
liquidus
The liquidus temperature, TL or Tliq, specifies the temperature above which a material is completely liquid, and the maximum temperature at which crystals can co-exist with the melt in thermodynamic equilibrium. It is mostly used for impure subst ...
) and freeze temperature (
solidus
Solidus (Latin for "solid") may refer to:
* Solidus (coin), a Roman coin of nearly solid gold
* Solidus (punctuation), or slash, a punctuation mark
* Solidus (chemistry)
In chemistry, materials science, and physics, the solidus is the locus ...
) "meet at the pure element endpoints of the atomic ratio axis while slightly separating in the mixture region of this axis".
The term was coined in 1884 by British physicist and chemist
Frederick Guthrie
Frederick Guthrie FRS FRSE (15 October 1833 – 21 October 1886) was a British physicist and chemist and academic author.
He was the son of Alexander Guthrie, a London tradesman, and the younger brother of mathematician Francis Guthrie. Al ...
(1833–1886). The word originates from the Greek ( 'well') and ( 'melting').
Eutectic phase transition

The eutectic solidification is defined as follows:
[.]
:
This type of reaction is an invariant reaction, because it is in
thermal equilibrium
Two physical systems are in thermal equilibrium if there is no net flow of thermal energy between them when they are connected by a path permeable to heat. Thermal equilibrium obeys the zeroth law of thermodynamics. A system is said to be in ...
; another way to define this is the change in
Gibbs free energy
In thermodynamics, the Gibbs free energy (or Gibbs energy; symbol G) is a thermodynamic potential that can be used to calculate the maximum amount of work (physics), work that may be performed by a closed system, thermodynamically closed system a ...
equals zero. Tangibly, this means the liquid and two
solid solution
A solid solution, a term popularly used for metals, is a homogenous mixture of two different kinds of atoms in solid state and have a single crystal structure. Many examples can be found in metallurgy, geology, and solid-state chemistry. The wor ...
s all coexist at the same time and are in
chemical equilibrium
In a chemical reaction, chemical equilibrium is the state in which both the reactants and products are present in concentrations which have no further tendency to change with time, so that there is no observable change in the properties of the ...
. There is also a
thermal arrest for the duration of the change of phase during which the temperature of the system does not change.
The resulting solid
macrostructure
Macrostructure may refer to:
* Macrostructure (linguistics)
* Macrostructure (psychology)
*Macrostructure (sociology) In sociology, macrostructures, often simply called 'structure', correspond to the overall organization of society, described at a ...
from a eutectic reaction depends on a few factors, with the most important factor being how the two solid solutions nucleate and grow. The most common structure is a
lamellar structure, but other possible structures include rodlike, globular, and
acicular.
Non-eutectic compositions
Compositions of eutectic systems that are not at the eutectic point can be classified as ''hypoeutectic'' or ''hypereutectic''. Hypoeutectic compositions are those with a smaller percent composition of species β and a greater composition of species α than the eutectic composition (E) while hypereutectic solutions are characterized as those with a higher composition of species β and a lower composition of species α than the eutectic composition. As the temperature of a non-eutectic composition is lowered the liquid mixture will precipitate one component of the mixture before the other. In a hypereutectic solution, there will be a proeutectoid phase of species β whereas a hypoeutectic solution will have a proeutectic α phase.
Types
Alloys
Eutectic
alloy
An alloy is a mixture of chemical elements of which at least one is a metal. Unlike chemical compounds with metallic bases, an alloy will retain all the properties of a metal in the resulting material, such as electrical conductivity, ductilit ...
s have two or more materials and have a eutectic composition. When a non-eutectic alloy solidifies, its components solidify at different temperatures, exhibiting a plastic melting range. Conversely, when a well-mixed, eutectic alloy melts, it does so at a single, sharp temperature. The various phase transformations that occur during the solidification of a particular alloy composition can be understood by drawing a vertical line from the liquid phase to the solid phase on the phase diagram for that alloy.
Some uses include:
*NEMA Eutectic Alloy Overload Relays for
electrical protection of 3-phase motors for pumps, fans, conveyors, and other factory process equipment.
*Eutectic alloys for
soldering
Soldering (; ) is a process in which two or more items are joined by melting and putting a filler metal ( solder) into the joint, the filler metal having a lower melting point than the adjoining metal. Unlike welding, soldering does not in ...
, both traditional alloys composed of
lead
Lead is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metals, heavy metal that is density, denser than most common materials. Lead is Mohs scale of mineral hardness#Intermediate ...
(Pb) and
tin (Sn), sometimes with additional
silver
Silver is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂erǵ-, ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, whi ...
(Ag) or
gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile ...
(Au) — especially
SnPb and SnPbAg alloy formula for electronics - and newer lead-free soldering alloys, in particular ones composed of
tin (Sn),
silver
Silver is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂erǵ-, ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, whi ...
(Ag), and
copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from la, cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish ...
(Cu) such as SnAg.
*Casting alloys, such as
aluminium-silicon and
cast iron
Cast iron is a class of iron– carbon alloys with a carbon content more than 2%. Its usefulness derives from its relatively low melting temperature. The alloy constituents affect its color when fractured: white cast iron has carbide impu ...
(at the composition of 4.3% carbon in iron producing an
austenite
Austenite, also known as gamma-phase iron (γ-Fe), is a metallic, non-magnetic allotrope of iron or a solid solution of iron with an alloying element. In plain-carbon steel, austenite exists above the critical eutectoid temperature of 1000 ...
-
cementite eutectic)
*
Silicon chips are bonded to gold-plated substrates through a silicon-gold eutectic by the application of
ultrasonic energy to the chip. See
eutectic bonding.
*
Brazing, where diffusion can remove alloying elements from the joint, so that eutectic melting is only possible early in the brazing process
*Temperature response, e.g.,
Wood's metal and
Field's metal for
fire sprinkler
A fire sprinkler or sprinkler head is the component of a fire sprinkler system that discharges water when the effects of a fire have been detected, such as when a predetermined temperature has been exceeded. Fire sprinklers are extensively used ...
s
*Non-toxic
mercury replacements, such as
galinstan
Galinstan (R) is a brand name for a alloy composed of gallium, indium, and tin which melts at and is thus liquid at room temperature. However, it is not a eutectic alloy but a near eutectic alloy. In scientific literature, galinstan is also use ...
*Experimental
glassy metals
An amorphous metal (also known as metallic glass, glassy metal, or shiny metal) is a solid metallic material, usually an alloy, with disordered atomic-scale structure. Most metals are crystalline in their solid state, which means they have a h ...
, with extremely high strength and
corrosion
Corrosion is a natural process that converts a refined metal into a more chemically stable oxide. It is the gradual deterioration of materials (usually a metal) by chemical or electrochemical reaction with their environment. Corrosion engi ...
resistance
*Eutectic alloys of
sodium
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na (from Latin ''natrium'') and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal. Sodium is an alkali metal, being in group 1 of the periodic table. Its only stable ...
and
potassium
Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K (from Neo-Latin '' kalium'') and atomic number19. Potassium is a silvery-white metal that is soft enough to be cut with a knife with little force. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmosp ...
(
NaK) that are liquid at room temperature and used as
coolant
A coolant is a substance, typically liquid, that is used to reduce or regulate the temperature of a system. An ideal coolant has high thermal capacity, low viscosity, is low-cost, non-toxic, chemically inert and neither causes nor promotes corros ...
in experimental
fast neutron nuclear reactors.
Others

*
Sodium chloride
Sodium chloride , commonly known as salt (although sea salt also contains other chemical salts), is an ionic compound with the chemical formula NaCl, representing a 1:1 ratio of sodium and chloride ions. With molar masses of 22.99 and 35 ...
and
water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as ...
form a eutectic mixture whose eutectic point is −21.2 °C and 23.3% salt by mass. The eutectic nature of salt and water is exploited when salt is spread on roads to aid
snow removal
Snow removal or snow clearing is the job of removing snow after a snowfall to make travel easier and safer. This is done by both individual households and by governments and institutions.
De-icing and anti-icing
De-icing is defined as removal ...
, or mixed with ice to produce low temperatures (for example, in traditional
ice cream
Ice cream is a sweetened frozen food typically eaten as a snack or dessert. It may be made from milk or cream and is flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit such as ...
making).
* Ethanol–water has an unusually biased eutectic point, i.e. it is close to pure ethanol, which sets the maximum proof obtainable by
fractional freezing.
* "Solar salt", 60% NaNO
3 and 40% KNO
3, forms a eutectic molten salt mixture which is used for
thermal energy storage
Thermal energy storage (TES) is achieved with widely different technologies. Depending on the specific technology, it allows excess thermal energy to be stored and used hours, days, months later, at scales ranging from the individual process, ...
in
concentrated solar power
Concentrated solar power (CSP, also known as concentrating solar power, concentrated solar thermal) systems generate solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight into a receiver. Electricity is generated when ...
plants. To reduce the eutectic melting point in the solar molten salts,
calcium nitrate is used in the following proportion: 42% Ca(NO
3)
2, 43% KNO
3, and 15% NaNO
3.
*
Lidocaine
Lidocaine, also known as lignocaine and sold under the brand name Xylocaine among others, is a local anesthetic of the amino amide type. It is also used to treat ventricular tachycardia. When used for local anaesthesia or in nerve blocks, li ...
and
prilocaine—both are solids at room temperature—form a eutectic that is an oil with a melting point that is used in
eutectic mixture of local anesthetic
Lidocaine/prilocaine is a eutectic mixture of equal quantities (by weight) of lidocaine and prilocaine. A 5% emulsion preparation, containing 2.5% each of lidocaine/prilocaine, is marketed by APP Pharmaceuticals under the trade name EMLA (an a ...
(EMLA) preparations.
*
Menthol
Menthol is an organic compound, more specifically a monoterpenoid, made synthetically or obtained from the oils of corn mint, peppermint, or other mints. It is a waxy, clear or white crystalline substance, which is solid at room temperature and ...
and
camphor
Camphor () is a waxy, colorless solid with a strong aroma. It is classified as a terpenoid and a cyclic ketone. It is found in the wood of the camphor laurel ('' Cinnamomum camphora''), a large evergreen tree found in East Asia; and in the k ...
, both solids at room temperature, form a eutectic that is a liquid at room temperature in the following proportions: 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, and 5:5. Both substances are common ingredients in pharmacy extemporaneous preparations.
*
Mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. Rafferty, ed. ...
s may form eutectic mixtures in
igneous
Igneous rock (derived from the Latin word ''ignis'' meaning fire), or magmatic rock, is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma o ...
rocks, giving rise to characteristic
intergrowth textures exhibited, for example, by
granophyre.
* Some inks are eutectic mixtures, allowing
inkjet printers to operate at lower temperatures.
*
Choline Choline is an essential nutrient for humans and many other animals. Choline occurs as a cation that forms various salts (X− in the depicted formula is an undefined counteranion). Humans are capable of some ''de novo synthesis'' of choline but ...
chloride produces eutectic mixtures with many natural products such as
citric acid
Citric acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula HOC(CO2H)(CH2CO2H)2. It is a colorless weak organic acid. It occurs naturally in citrus fruits. In biochemistry, it is an intermediate in the citric acid cycle, which occurs in t ...
,
malic acid and
sugars
Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or double ...
. These liquid mixtures can be used, for example, to obtain antioxidant and antidiabetic extracts from
natural product
A natural product is a natural compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature. In the broadest sense, natural products include any substance produced by life. Natural products can also be prepared by chemical sy ...
s.
Other critical points

Eutectoid
When the solution above the transformation point is solid, rather than liquid, an analogous eutectoid transformation can occur. For instance, in the iron-carbon system, the
austenite
Austenite, also known as gamma-phase iron (γ-Fe), is a metallic, non-magnetic allotrope of iron or a solid solution of iron with an alloying element. In plain-carbon steel, austenite exists above the critical eutectoid temperature of 1000 ...
phase can undergo a eutectoid transformation to produce
ferrite and
cementite, often in lamellar structures such as
pearlite and
bainite
Bainite is a plate-like microstructure that forms in steels at temperatures of 125–550 °C (depending on alloy content). First described by E. S. Davenport and Edgar Bain, it is one of the products that may form when austenite (the face ...
. This eutectoid point occurs at and 0.76 wt% carbon.
Peritectoid
A ''peritectoid'' transformation is a type of
isothermal reversible reaction
A reversible reaction is a reaction in which the conversion of reactants to products and the conversion of products to reactants occur simultaneously.
: \mathit aA + \mathit bB \mathit cC + \mathit dD
A and B can react to form C and D or, in the ...
that has two solid
phases reacting with each other upon cooling of a binary, ternary, ..., ''n''-ary
alloy
An alloy is a mixture of chemical elements of which at least one is a metal. Unlike chemical compounds with metallic bases, an alloy will retain all the properties of a metal in the resulting material, such as electrical conductivity, ductilit ...
to create a completely different and single solid phase.
The reaction plays a key role in the order and
decomposition
Decomposition or rot is the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide, water, simple sugars and mineral salts. The process is a part of the nutrient cycle and is ...
of
quasicrystalline
A quasiperiodic crystal, or quasicrystal, is a structure that is ordered but not periodic. A quasicrystalline pattern can continuously fill all available space, but it lacks translational symmetry. While crystals, according to the classical ...
phases in several alloy types. A similar structural transition is also predicted for
rotating columnar crystals.
Peritectic

Peritectic transformations are also similar to eutectic reactions. Here, a liquid and solid phase of fixed proportions react at a fixed temperature to yield a single solid phase. Since the solid product forms at the interface between the two reactants, it can form a diffusion barrier and generally causes such reactions to proceed much more slowly than eutectic or eutectoid transformations. Because of this, when a peritectic composition solidifies it does not show the
lamellar structure that is found with eutectic solidification.
Such a transformation exists in the iron-carbon system, as seen near the upper-left corner of the figure. It resembles an inverted eutectic, with the δ phase combining with the liquid to produce pure
austenite
Austenite, also known as gamma-phase iron (γ-Fe), is a metallic, non-magnetic allotrope of iron or a solid solution of iron with an alloying element. In plain-carbon steel, austenite exists above the critical eutectoid temperature of 1000 ...
at and 0.17% carbon.
At the peritectic decomposition temperature the compound, rather than melting, decomposes into another solid compound and a liquid. The proportion of each is determined by the
lever rule. In the
Al-Au phase diagram, for example, it can be seen that only two of the phases melt congruently,
AuAl2 and
Au2Al , while the rest peritectically decompose.
Eutectic calculation
The composition and temperature of a eutectic can be calculated from enthalpy and entropy of fusion of each components.
The Gibbs free energy ''G'' depends on its own differential:
:
Thus, the ''G''/''T'' derivative at constant pressure is calculated by the following equation:
:
The chemical potential
is calculated if we assume that the activity is equal to the concentration:
:
At the equilibrium,
, thus
is obtained as
:
Using and integrating gives
:
The integration constant ''K'' may be determined for a pure component with a melting temperature
and an enthalpy of fusion
:
:
We obtain a relation that determines the molar fraction as a function of the temperature for each component:
:
The mixture of ''n'' components is described by the system
:
:
which can be solved by
:
See also
*
Azeotrope, or constant boiling mixture
*
Freezing-point depression
Freezing-point depression is a drop in the minimum temperature at which a substance freezes, caused when a smaller amount of another, non- volatile substance is added. Examples include adding salt into water (used in ice cream makers and for ...
*
Low melting alloy A fusible alloy is a metal alloy capable of being easily fused, i.e. easily meltable, at relatively low temperatures. Fusible alloys are commonly, but not necessarily, eutectic alloys.
Sometimes the term "fusible alloy" is used to describe alloys ...
References
Bibliography
*
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
{{Chemical solutions
Materials science
Chemistry
Phase transitions