Jason Poland

MSE 2160 Online

Assignment 4
2/21/15

• 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.

Rate1 = 5 x 105 jumps/s

T1 = 400 C
T2 = 750 C
R = 1.987 cal/mol/K
Q = 30,000 cal/mol
Rate = C0exp(-Q/RT)
Rate1/Rate2 = C0exp(-Q/RT1)/C0exp(-Q/RT2)
Rate2 = Rate1*exp(-Q/R(1/T2 -1/T1))
Rate2 = 5*(105)*exp(-30000/1.987(1/(750+273)-1/(400+273)))
Rate2 = 1.08 x 109 jumps/s

• 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 D0.
D2 = 6 x 10-15 cm2/s
T2 = 727+273 = 1000 K
D1 = 1 x 10-9 cm2/s
T1 = 1400+273 = 1673 K
R = 1.987 cal/mol/K
D = D0exp(-Q/RT)
D2/D1 = D0exp(-Q/RT2)/D0exp(-Q/RT1)
D2/D1= exp(-Q/R(1/T2 - 1/T1))
ln(D2/D1) = -Q/R(1/T2 - 1/T1)
ln(6 x 10-6) = -Q/1.987(4.02 x 10-4)
Q = 59,391 cal/mol
6 x 10-15 cm2/s = D0exp(-59391/1.987(1000))
D0 = 0.0574 cm2/s

• A 0.001-in. BCC iron foil is used to separate a high hydrogen gas from a low hydro-
gen gas at 650oC. 5 × 108 H atoms/cm3 are in equilibrium with the hot side of the foil,
while 2 × 103 H atoms/cm3 are in equilibrium with the cold side. Determine (a) the
concentration gradient of hydrogen and (b) the flux of hydrogen through the foil.
a.
delta C/x = (5 x 108 - 2 x 103)/0.001(2.54) = 1.9685 x 1011 H atoms/cm2
b.
D = D0exp(-Q/RT) = 0.0012exp(-3600/1.987(650+273)) = 1.6854 x 10-4 cm2/s
J = D(deltaC/x) = 1.9685 x 1011(1.6854 x 10-4) = 3.32 x 107 atoms/cm2s

• Determine the maximum allowable temperature that will produce a flux of less than
2000 H atoms/cm2 · s through a BCC iron foil when the concentration gradient is
−5 × 1016 atoms/cm3 · cm. (Note the negative sign for the flux.)

J = -2000 H atoms/cm2-
D0 = 0.0012
delta C = -5 x 1016
Q = 3600
J = D(deltaC/x)
J = D0exp(-Q/RT)(deltaC/x)
ln(J/D0(x/deltaC)) = -Q/RT
T = -Q/Rln(J/D0(x/deltaC))
T = 75 K

• Compare the diffusion coefficients of carbon in BCC and FCC iron at the allotropic
transformation temperature of 912oC and explain the difference.

The diffusion coefficient in BCC iron is higher than in FCC at the transformation temperature.
This is because there is more room in a BCC crystal for Hydrogen atoms to move around then
there is in the FCC crystal

• What is carburizing? Explain why this process is expected to cause an increase in the
hardness of the surface of plain carbon steel.

Carburizing is the process where carbon is diffused into the surface of a piece of metal. The
carbon atoms cause the crystal structure to deform, which causes the surface to be harder.

• What is a nitriding heat treatment?

It is a lot like carburizing but nitrogen is used instead of carbon

• A carburizing process is carried out on a 0.10% C steel by introducing 1.0% C at

the surface at 980oC, where the iron is FCC. Calculate the carbon content at 0.01
cm, 0.05 cm, and 0.10 cm beneath the surface after 1 h.
 D = 0.23 exp(-32,900/(1.987)(1253) = 42 x 10-8 cm2/s
1 - Cx/1-0.1 = erf(x/(2sqrt(42 x 10-8(3600)))
Cx = 1 - 0.9(erf(x/0.0778))
x = 0.01 cm
Cx = 0.87% C
x = 0.05 cm
Cx = 0.43% C
x = 0.1 cm
Cx = 0.18% c

• We can successfully perform a carburizing heat treatment at 12000C in 1 hour. In an effort to

reduce the cost of the brick lining in our furnace, we propose to reduce the carburizing
temperature to 950 0C. What time will be required to give us a similar carburizing treatment?
T1 = 1200 +273 = 1473 K
T2 = 950+273 = 1223 K
t1 = 1 hr
Q = 32900 cal/mol
D2t2 = D1t1
t2 = t1*D0exp(-Q/RT1)/D0exp(-Q/RT2)
t2 = t1*exp(-Q/R(1/T1-1/T2))
t2 = 9.95 hrs

• During freezing of a Cu-Zn alloy, we find that the composition is nonuniform. By

heating the alloy to 600oC for 3 hours, diffusion of zinc helps to make the composi-
tion more uniform. What temperature would be required if we wished to perform
this homogenization treatment in 30 minutes?

Q = 43900 cal/mol
T1 = 600+273 = 873 K
t1 = 3(60) = 180 min
t2 = 30 min
t2/t1 = D1/D2
t2/t1 = D0exp(-Q/RT1)/D0exp(-Q/RT2)
ln(t2/t1) = -Q/R(1/T1-1/T2)
ln(0.167) = -43900/1.987(1/873-1/T2)
T2 = 940 K = 666 C