MATERIAL SCIENCE AND

ENGINEERING
Diffusion
Engr. Joseph Benedict N. Prim
Diffusion
Objectives
• Name and describe the two atomic mechanisms for diffusion
• Distinguish between steady-state and non-steady-state diffusion
(a) write Fick's first and second laws in equation form and define all
parameters
(b) note the kind of diffusion for which each of these equations is normally
applied
• Write the solution to Fick's second law for diffusion into a semi-infinite solid
when the concentration species at the surface is held constant. Define all
parameters in this equation
• Calculate the diffusion coefficient for some material at a specified temperature,
given the appropriate diffusion constant
Outline
1. Diffusion
2. Diffusion mechanisms
3. Diffusion equations
4. Factors
Diffusion
The image of the steel gear has been case
hardened. The outer surface layer was
selectively hardened by a high-temperature heat
treatment during which carbon from the
surrounding atmosphere diffused into the
surface.
This process is to increase the wear resistance
of the gear and enhance the gear's resistance to
fatigue by failure while in service.
What is diffusion?

Diffusion is material
transport by atomic
motion
Inhomogeneous materials can become homogeneous by
diffusion.
For active diffusion to occur, the temperature should be
high enough to overcome energy barriers to atomic motion.
Atomic Vibrations
Heat causes atoms to vibrate.
Vibration amplitude increases with temperature.
Melting occurs when vibrations are sufficient to rupture
bonds.
Vibration frequency at around 1013 Hz.
Example – diffusion of nickel in to copper

Heat
Diffusion Mechanics
Diffusion Mechanics
From an atomic perspective, diffusion is just the stepwise migration of
atoms from lattice site to lattice site.
Atoms in solid materials are in constant motion, rapidly changing positions.
Two conditions for atomic movements:
1. empty adjacent site
2. sufficient energy to break bonds with its neighbor atoms. (which will
cause some lattice distortion during displacement)
Models for atomic motion:
1. Vacancy diffusion
2. Interstitial diffusion
Vacancy Diffusion
Interchange of an atom from a normal lattice position to an adjacent
vacant lattice site pr vacancy.

This type of diffusion is called self-diffusion.

Vacancy Diffusion
This process necessitates the presence of vacancies, and the extent to
which vacancy diffusion can occur is a function of the number of these
defects that are present.
Significant concentrations of vacancies may exist in metals at elevated
temperatures.
Interstitial Diffusion
Migration of an atom from an interstitial position to a neighboring one that
is empty.

This type of diffusion is also termed as inter-diffusion or impurity

diffusion.
Interstitial Diffusion

This mechanism is found for inter-diffusion of impurities such as

hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, which have atoms that are
relatively small enough to fit into interstitial positions.

For metal alloys, interstitial diffusion occurs more rapidly than diffusion by
the vacancy diffusion, this is due to interstitial atoms being smaller, thus
more mobile. And there are more empty interstitial positions than
vacancies.
Diffusion Flux
The Flux of diffusing atoms, J
It is used to quantify how fast diffusion occurs
It is the number of atoms diffusing through a unit area and per unit time
(atoms /m2 -sec) or in terms of mass flux - mass of atoms diffusing
through a unit area per unit time (kg/ m2 -sec)
M
J=
At
In differential form

1 dM
J=
A dt
The Flux of diffusing atoms, J
Steady-State Diffusion
Steady-State Diffusion
The diffusion flux that does not change with time.

Concentration profile
Concentration of atoms /molecules of interest as function of position in
the sample.

Concentration gradient, dC (Kg.m-4)

dx
The slope at a particular point on the concentration profile.
Concentration gradient
Steady-State Diffusion –
Fick's First Law
Fick's First Law
The diffusion flux along the direction x is proportional to the concentration
gradient.

J = - D dC
dx

Where D is the diffusion coefficient

The concentration gradient is referred to as the driving force in diffusion.

The minus sign in the equation means that diffusion is down the
concentration gradient
Fick's First Law
Example 1

A plate of iron is exposed to a carburizing (carbon rich) atmosphere on

one side and a decarburizing (carbon-deficient) atmosphere on the other
side at 7000C. If a condition of steady state is achieved, calculate the
diffusion flux of carbon through the plate if the concentrations of carbon
at positions of 5 and 10 mm beneath the carburizing surface are 1.2 and
0.8 kg/m3 respectively. Assume a diffusion coefficient of 3x10-11 m2/s at
this temperature.

Ans. 2.4 x10-9 kg / m2s

Non-Steady-State Diffusion –
Fick's Second Law
Fick's Second Law

In most real situations the concentration profile and concentration gradient

are changing with time.

∂C ∂ ∂C ∂2 C
= D =D 2
∂t ∂x ∂x ∂x
Fick's Second Law

Solution to this expression (concentration in both position and time) are

possible when physically meaningful boundary conditions are specified.
End of Chapter 5