Lecture 3

This document discusses diffusion in solids. It begins by defining diffusion as the mass flow process where atoms change positions driven by thermal energy and a compositional gradient. Common examples of diffusion include the spreading of ink in water and the diffusion of carbon into steel during carburizing. Fick's first law of diffusion states that the flux of atoms is proportional to the concentration gradient, with flux defined as the number of atoms traversing a plane per unit time. The document outlines some key quantities used to analyze diffusion such as concentration, concentration gradient, flux, and diffusion coefficient.

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Lecture 3

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Lecture 3

Diffusion in Solids

19th January 2023

Shantanu V. Madge
Department of Materials Engineering
IIT Jammu

1
What is Diffusion?

• A mass flow process where atoms or molecules change their

positions (relative to neighbours) in a given phase, typically
driven by thermal energy and a gradient.
• The gradient can in be a magnetic/electric field or stress.
• We are concerned only with “compositional gradients”.

2
Common, sinister examples of diffusion

3
Solid State Diffusion, our focus!
Requirement of Diffusion
Avoidance of Diffusion

4
Cases needing avoidance of diffusion

5
The Carburising Problem

6
Driving force for diffusion

• Water flows from a higher to lower height through reduction in

potential energy.
• Electric current flows under the influence of a voltage
difference.
• Diffusion occurs under the influence of a “compositional
gradient”.
• But what is the key parameter in diffusion?
• A reduction in the thermodynamic parameter called the “Free Energy”!

7
Usually, diffusion occurs down a concentration gradient

• Water and milk

• Or most
engineering metals
and alloys

8
Uphill Diffusion

• In some cases, diffusion can occur

“against” a concentration gradient,
i.e. instead of mixing, there is de-
mixing, like oil and water!
• Iron and copper are an example of
immiscible metals.
• Even in these cases, the driving
force still remains a reduction in
free energy. It is just that there is
something unusual in those
materials, i.e. A and B atoms
“dislike” each other.

9
10
12
Fick’s First Law of Diffusion B atoms
Area A

Where
dn/dt is the number of moles of B
atoms traversing, per unit time, a
plane of area A,
Slope = dc/dx
which is perpendicular to the Concentration, C
diffusion direction x and
dc/dx is the concentration gradient
in this direction.
D is called the diffusivity or diffusion
coefficient.
Distance, x

13
Fick’s First Law

Flux (J) is defined as moles per unit area per unit time.
J is proportional to the concentration gradient.

Because usually dc/dx is negative, the minus sign is chosen to keep D

(a material property) positive!

14
Basic quantities in analyzing diffusion

Quantity SI units Other Units

Unit Symbol
Concentration c mole per cubic mol m−3 No. of atoms/cm3
meter
Concentration mole per cubic mol m−4 No. of atoms /cm4
gradient, dc/dx metre per metre
Flux, J mole per square mol m−2 s−1 No. of atoms/cm2/s
meter per second
Diffusion metre squared per m2 s−1 --
Coefficient, D second