Review

Chapters: 2, 3, 4, 5, 10.3

Diffusion

Concept test
If hydrogen diffuses through a block made of 2
different materials at steady-state. What can we
conclude about the thickness of the different
materials if the concentration changes remain
equal?
a) The thickness is the same
b) The thickness of the material with the higher
diffusion co-efficient is greater *
c) The thickness of the material with the lower
diffusion co-efficient is greater
3

Diffusion through two different

materials in Steady state conditions
If:
D N2 in b > D N2 in a
&
(C1-C0) = (C2-C1)

J N2 in b = J N2 in a
Then:

y > X
C2

C1

C0

N2

Practice problem
The activation energy for the diffusion of atomic species A in metal B
is 1.26x102 kJ/mol.
It is also known that the value of D at 1.193x103 C is 6.085x10-11 m2/s.
Calculate the diffusion coefficient (in m2/s) at 8.02x102 C.

D1=D0 exp(-Q/RT1)
D2=D0 exp(-Q/RT2)

D1/D2 = D0/D0 exp(-Q/RT1+Q/RT2)

Simple substitution

D2 = 1.24 10-13

m2/s
5

Atomic Binding

Concept Test
If we know 2 atoms bond length is 0.3 nm, then
what is true about the 2 atoms?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

The energy is zero at 0.3 nm

The Attractive and Repulsive forces are equal at 0.3 nm
At any other distance the energy of the 2 atoms is higher than at 0.3 nm
B and C are both true *
All of the above

Bonding Forces and Energies

Index Direction and Plane

a) [101]
b) [111]
c) [201]

10

Crystal a
a) (201)
b) (101)
c) (111)

Crystal b
a) (112) *

b) (102)
c) (111)
b

11

(020)

(122)

(301)

(132)
(232)
12

[221]

OF=[112],

OD=[201]

CB= [001]

(221)

13

Exercise on finding planes indices

www.doitpoms.ac.uk
DoITPoMS
TLP Library
Lattice Planes and Miller Indices
14

Imperfections in solids
Point defects: vacancy, Interstitials, solute atoms
Linear defects: dislocations: edge / screw
Planar defects: External surfaces, Grain boundaries, twin boundaries

15

Concept Test
If the free energy (G) of a crystal is slightly above its
desired minimum due to the crystal having only 1
configuration, what could be done to bring the free
energy of the crystal to the minimum?

a) Increase the number of vacancies *

b) Decrease the number of vacancies
c) Not enough information to tell
16

Thermodynamics of Vacancies
(not covered in text)

Some vacancies lower free energy.

From chemistry: G = H TS
Entropy (S) is the key.
A crystal only has one perfect
configuration.
configurational entropy is zero
n*
Vacancies (on the other hand) give rise to many configurations.
add n vacancies to a lattice with N atoms
so as n S G
Create vacancies until G is at a minimum.
Qv = activation energy of vacancy
formation
*
R = gas
n
Q
v
X

exp

V
N RT

n
N n

constant = 8.314 J / mol K

K= 8.6210-5 ev/atom k
17

Dislocations are not thermodynamically stable.

By increasing temperature we can remove them

18

Braggs Law
n=2dSin
Angle of diffraction = 2
19

Practice problem
Consider a metal with an FCC crystal structure.
The interplanar spacing is known to be 0.284 nm.
If the first-order angle of diffraction (2*theta) is found
to be 41.2 for the (311) set of planes in this metal,
what wavelength of monochromatic x-radiation (in nm)
must have been used for the diffraction?
a) 0.2 *

b) 0.55
c) 0.98
20

Nucleation Barrier

Solid cluster has a surface and surface energy s

Total energy

Gtot=VGsol+4r2 s

4
r 3Gsol 4r 2 s
3

Nucleation barrier
Find r* from

Gtot
0
r
21

Practice Problem
Experimental observations on the solidification of a
hypothetical metal show that the liquid-solid surface energy
is 0.8 J/m2 and the driving force for solidification, Gsol, is 8x109 J/m3. If the critical radius for homogenous nucleation is
0.2 nm, calculate the activation energy for homogenous
nucleation [Hint: 1 eV =1.602x10-19 J]
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

0.74 eV
0.84 eV *
0.34 eV
0.14 eV
0.24 eV

22