MSE 3002

Previous exam
Chapter 2



Question Possible points Points earned
1 60
2 20
3 20

(60 points)
1. The figure below shows the molar Gibbs energy diagram for the system A-B at
temperature T
1
. Imagine that a block of of composition X
B
1
is welded to a block of
of composition X
B
2
.
A. Show how the composition changes in each couple with time as the system
moves toward equilibrium.
B. Using chemical potential as the driving force for diffusion show how the
chemical potential changes as A and B diffuse as the system comes to
equilibrium.
C. Show how the Gibbs molar free energy changes as the system moves toward
equilibrium.
D. Sketch the microstructure when the system reaches equilibrium.


(20 points)
2. A thin sheet of pure iron is placed in a furnace where one surface is exposed to a
carburizing atmosphere and the other exposed to a decarburizing atmosphere. If
the surface carbon content is fixed at 1.25 wt% carbon as a result of the
carburization and the other surface is maintained at 0.15 wt% carbon. The
diffusivity of carbon decreased from 2.5X10
-11
m
2
/sec at 0.15 wt % carbon to
7.7X10
-11
m
2
/sec at 1.25 wt% carbon.
A. Sketch the carbon profile as a function of time and use Ficks 2
nd
law to justify
your sketches.
B. Determine the concentration gradients at each surface when steady-state is
reached.



(20 points)
3. Sketch the temperature dependence of the diffusivity in a polycrystalline material.
Show how the plot will be affected if the grain size is reduced. A simple relationship
between grain boundary diffusivity, D
GB
, and grain boundary thickness, , and bulk
diffusivity, D
B
,

and grain size, d,

shows that when D
GB
> dD
B
then grain boundary
diffusion dominates. Explain how this relationship can be developed.