Diffusion

Tutorial
1. Atoms are found to move from one lattice position to
another at the rate of 5 × 105 jumps/s at 400oC when the
activation energy for their movement is 30,000 cal/mol.
Calculate the jump rate at 750oC.
Rate = C0. exp (-Q/RT)
Find C0 from the data pertaining to 400°C
Calculate the Jumps/S at 750°C using C0
Ans = 1.08 X 109 jumps/sec
2. Pure Aluminum is cast and has a density of 2.67g/cc. Calculate the theoretical
density and report any discrepancies. Calculate the number of vacancies per cm3.
Atomic mass of Al = 26.99 g/mole, Atomic radius = 1.43 A°
Theoretical density = No. of atoms/unit cell X At.Mass
Vol. of Unit cell X Av. Number

= 2.71 g/cc

Vacancy density = 0.04g/cc

No. of vacancies / unit cell = 0.0588

Calculate the vacancies per cm3

(4.04 X 10-8)3 cm3contains 0.0588 vacancies

1cm3 contains ??????????? vacancies
 3. The number of vacancies in a material is related to temperature by an Arrhenius
equation. If the fraction of lattice points containing vacancies is 8 × 10−5 at 600oC,
determine the fraction at 1000oC. Given Q = 16364 cal/mole

nv = n.exp(-Q/RT)

Ans = 1.552X10-3

4. The diffusion coefficient for Cr+3 in Cr2O3 is 6 × 10−15 cm2/s at 727oC and is 1 ×
10−9 cm2/s at 1400oC. Calculate (a) the activation energy and (b) the constant Do.
5. A 0.05 cm layer of magnesium oxide (MgO) is deposited between layers of
nickel (Ni) and tantalum (Ta) to provide a diffusion barrier that prevents
reactions between the two metals. At 1400oC, nickel ions are created and
diffuse through the MgO ceramic to the tantalum. Determine the number of
nickel ions that pass through the MgO per second. The diffusion coefficient
of nickel ions in MgO is 9 × 10-12 cm2/s, and the lattice parameter of nickel at
1400oC is 3.6 × 10-8 cm.
The composition of nickel at the Ni/MgO interface is 100% Ni, or

atoms
4Ni
22 atoms
c Ni / MgO = unitcell
−8
(3.6 × 10 cm) 3
= 8.57 × 10
cm3

The composition of nickel at the Ta/MgO interface is 0% Ni. Thus, the

concentration gradient is:

atoms 22
0 − 8.57 × 10
∆c cm3
24 atoms
= = −1.71 × 10 3
∆x 0.05cm cm .cm

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The flux of nickel atoms through the MgO layer is:

∆c −12 2 24 atoms
J = −D = (9 × 10 cm / s)(−1.71 × 10 3
)
∆x cm .cm
13 Niatoms
J = 1.54 × 10 2
cm .s
The total number of nickel atoms crossing the 2 cm × 2 cm interface
per second is:
Total Ni atoms per second = J(Area)
= (1.54 × 1013 atoms/cm2.s) (2 cm)(2 cm)
= 6.16 × 1013 Ni atoms/s

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6. The surface of a 0.1% C steel gears is to be hardened by carburizing. In gas carburizing,
the steel gears are placed in an atmosphere that provides 1.2% C at the surface of the
steel at a high temperature (Figure 5.1). Carbon then diffuses from the surface into the
steel. For optimum properties, the steel must contain 0.45% C at a depth of 0.2 cm
below the surface. Design a carburizing heat treatment that will produce these optimum
properties. Assume that the temperature is high enough (at least 900oC) so that the iron
has the FCC structure.

Cs − C x  x 
= erf  
C s − C0  2 Dt 

D.t = 00198 cm2

D = D0 . Exp (-Q/RT)

Solve for ‘t’

Use arbitrary values of T and

fine ‘t’.
7. A Cu-Zn alloy has a initial grain diameter of 0.01mm. The alloy is then heated
to various temperatures permitting grain growth to occur. The times required for
grains to grow to a diameter of 0.3 mm are

Temperature , K Time , min

873 3000
973 120
Rate = C0. exp (-Q/RT)
1073 10
1123 3
Determine the activation energy

Temp(T) 1/T Time, min Rate, 1/min

Q= 51000 cal/mole