Binary Phase Diagram Plotter

Introduction

In chemistry, geology, mineralogy and materials science, a binary phase diagram is a type of graph used to show the equilibrium conditions between the thermodynamically distinct phases. In a pressure-temperature diagram of water (single substance), the axis correspond to the pressure and temperature. In such a binary phase diagram the lines represent the equilibrium or boundaries between the phases.

Unlike for single substances, alloys do not have specific phase boundaries but rather tend to solidify over a temperature range. In such a phase diagram the elements is present on opposite side of the diagram (100% A or 100% B) . Occasionally there is a mixture of the constituent elements which produces solidification at a single temperature like a pure element (the eutectic point). The eutectic point can be found experimentally by plotting cooling rates over ranges of alloy composition.

CHEMIX School - Binary phase diagram plotter

Data Entry

Entering a data set in CHEMIX binary phase diagram plotter

Six sets of x,y data can be entered, each set represented by a plot symbol (black circle, red square etc.)

1) Select a radio button located below one of the symbols representing your data set.

2) Enter x,y + text data in edit field.

3) Calculate

Both symbol and text can be inserted in CHEMIX binary phase diagram plotter. A and B can be inserted as any real numbers. Text fragments in which may follow the numbers A and B must only partly contain numbers e.g. 10 10 L1 where L1 is the text fragment.

Commands

There are seven commands that can be inserted in the end of each text string, these are:
[sf] = small font
[bf] = big font
[-s] = hide symbol
[-t] = hide text
[ih] = ignore hide (will ignore a "global" check box hide if Hide - Text/Symbols- has been selected).
[il] = ignore limits - This is a way to put text or/and symbols outside the rectangular frame.
[_???] = Angled text in degrees e.g. [_180] (180 deg).

Examples:
20 50 Comment[-t] Symbol only (no text)
30 40 Text Only[-s] Text only (no symbol)
20 50 Text Only[sf] Text only (small font)
30 30 Text Only[bf] Text only (big font)
40 40 Big Font Only[-s][bf] Big Font Only (no symbol)
20 50 Comment[-t] Symbol only (no text)
40 40 Text Only[-s][-t] Absolutely nothing (no symbol and no text)
20 15 Text Only [-s][ih] View the text (Text Only) even if Hide - Text (check box) has been selected
10 10 [180]degrees text[_180][-s] 180 degrees text (no symbol)
-5 -5 Text outside frame[il] Text outside rectangular frame if x-min and y-min limits > -5

Text Insertion: Insert two numbers A and B and text representing a phase (e.g. L1) separated by spaces. Because L1 is not a number it will be identified as text in which always must be placed after the two numbers A and B e.g. 5.2 7.3 L1 (A= 5.2 B=7.3 Text=L1).

Identify a number as text: A number can be identified as text if it is enclosed in square brackets.

SAMPLES:
20 20 number [10][sf] --> number 10 (small font)
25 25 number[11] --> number 11 (normal font)
30 30 number [12][bf] --> number 12 (big font)

Text fields

Title - axis : Insert title and x,y axis text here.

X-min, X-max, Y-min, Y-Max : Limits for the plot - can be changed manually.

Generate plot: Enter a function or select from the drop down selection box.

X Y Text : Enter a x,y data set and text in this field.

Legend : Legend text.

Name - Experiment : Name representing current x,y data sets and parameters "Experiment".

Generate plot

For plotting a function, insert a function in the text field located below "Generate plot" push button. Before using the push button, remember to enter min/max-limits for the plot. By selecting one of the items in the drop down list you will also be able to plot physical properties such as e.g. melting points etc. You can even manipulate physical (empirical) values selected from the drop down list by adding a function to the physical property (e.g . Melting point(C)+Symbol * sin(x) )

Note: To select radians or degrees go to "Calculator" (radio buttons).

Interpolate

Six options are available. First three options are local options. You must select a symbol (radio buttons located above the legend text field) before selecting one of the three first options.

Local options (Current selected data set)

Deactivate(d) : Line drawing/interpolation for selected symbol will be deactivated.

Nat.cub.spline : Draw a cub.spline curve between points.

Polyline : Draw straight lines between points.

Global options (all)

Deactivate(all) : All line drawing/interpolation will be deactivated.

Nat.cub.spline(all) : Draw a cub.spline curve between points.

Polyline(all) : Draw straight lines between points.

Legend

There are three options regarding the graphical content of a legend box. These are: 1) Symbol 2) Symbol + Line and 3) Line.

Spline mode and Fill mode

Spline mode

Splines: By selecting spline mode you will be able to create splines. Spline points may be created interactively by clicking the mouse pointer (cross) within the rectangular/frame area (making small rectangles). First and last point may be connected by selecting connect. You may move spline points by hand. Simply locate the mouse pointer within a small rectangular area, click the left mouse button and move the mouse pointer/rectangle. Spline points may be removed by clicking the right mouse button with the mouse pointer located within a rectangular area. A thick lined rectangle/(spline point) indicates that the spline point belongs to current selected set of spline points (1 spline 2 spline). Also, every set of spline points has a number located on the right side of the first created spline point . This number is the spline set number. 30 independent sets of splines each containing up to 50 spline points may be selected/created from the splines - drop down selection box.

Spline options

Thin spline: Thin spline if checked. Thick spline if unchecked.

Connect : Connect first and last point.

Delete : Removes all spline points for current selected set of spline points.

1 spline 2 spline ... : Sets of spline points. Select one of these from the drop down selection box. Spline sets that are in use has IU (In Use) located on the right side ( 1 spline IU 2 spline IU ...)

Black, Red , Green ... : Select spline color.

Fill mode

Fill mode enables you to insert fill points. First select a color from the drop down selection box. Insert a fill point by clicking left mouse button inside the frame. Fill points can be moved around inside the frame using left mouse button. You can remove fill points (cross) by locating the mouse cross inside a fill-point and right-click it. You can also remove a fill point by the Delete push button.

Fill options

1 fill 2 fill... : Select one of these (Note: Fill points that are in use has IU (In Use) located on the right side.

Black, Red , Green ... : Select fill color.

Calculate and +20% - Push buttons

Calculate : Use this push button to calculate max/min limits of a graph based on max/min inserted entry values.

+20% : Use this push button to rescale "zoom out" by 20% in regard to Calculate.

Zoom

Zoom by moving the mouse cursor in plot area while right mouse button is pressed. The zoom actually occurs when releasing the mouse button. If you want to go back to initial zoom values (un-zoom), simply locate the mouse cursor outside (or in) the plot area and press +release left mouse button without moving the mouse cursor.
Note: If any zoom exceeds factor 1/2000, initial x,y values (before zoom) will automatically be selected.

Legend box

Place the mouse cursor over the legend box an click left mouse button. Keep holding left mouse button down and move the box around. Note: The legend box can not be seen before text has been inserted in the legend text field.

View - Check boxes - Global selections

Symbols : Uncheck to hide all symbols (Note: It will not hide symbols for entries containing a [ih] (ignore hide) command).

Text : Check to view all text (Note: It will not hide text in entries containing a [ih] (ignore hide) command).

Legend: Check to view legend box.

Spline rectangles : Check to view all spline rectangles.

Splines : Check to view all splines.

Fill colors : Check to view all fill colors.

Scale : Check to view x and y scale numbers.

Grid : Check to view grid.

Dot : Check to select a dotted line grid - Uncheck to select a solid line grid.

Frame : Check to view frame.

Copy to Clipboard : By clicking the "copy to clipboard" push button (two rectangles) located bottom right, the image will be copied to the clipboard. The image can thereafter be used by other applications (word processors etc.) that has the paste option.

Print : Send image to printer (printer image on push button).

How to change print quality and bitmap size

It is possible to change print quality and "copy to clipboard" bitmap size. Simply go to "Setup" and select print quality and bitmap size by checking/unchecking proper check boxes.

One component phase diagram
Two component phase diagram
Phase diagram triple point
Carbon phase diagram
Nitrogen phase diagram

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