Surface Processing of

Materials
ATILIM UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING
MATE 464
Surfaces at atomic scale
ACCUMULATION OF ADATOMS on Surfaces
ACCUMULATION OF ADATOMS on Surfaces
Surfaces at atomic scale

Video Adsorption – 11 min

Terrace ledge kink (TLK) model
RELATED CHEMISTRY & PHYSICS
What is Chemistry?

The art of alchemy was handed

down through the centuries from
Egypt and Arabia to Greece and
Rome, and finally to western and
central Europe.
The word is derived from the
Arabian phrase "al-kimia," which
refers to the preparation of the Stone
or Elixir by the Egyptians.
Matter to Atoms and Molecules

MATTER
MOLECULES

ATOMS
 ATOM – The very basic description

 Know the difference between atoms and ions

Atomic Number: # of Protons

Nucleus # of electrons = # of protons

Net Charge = 0 (Zero)
Diameter of Atom ~ 1-2 Å (10-10 m)

Diameter of smallest atom (H/He): 1 Å

Diameter of largest atom (Cs): ~5 Å

Valence Orbital
Diameter of nucleus:
Between 1.6 fm (10−15 m) (for a proton
Inner Orbital(s)
in light hydrogen) to about 15 fm (for
the heaviest atoms, such as uranium).
ION

 An ion is a charged atom or molecule.

 It is charged because the number of electrons do not equal the number of
protons in the atom or molecule.
 An atom can acquire a positive charge if the number of electrons in an atom is
less then the number of protons in the atom.
 An atom can acquire a a negative charge if the number of electrons in an atom
is greater then the number of protons in the atom.
 Atomic electronic configuration
n is the principal quantum number.

2
2 2 2 2 2 2 6
2
2 2 2 2 6 10
2 14
2 6 10
2 2 2
2 2 6 10 14

2
Electronic configuration - 2

 The maximum number of electrons in any shell is 2n2, where n is the 

principal quantum number.
 e.g.: 3rd Shell = 3s2 - 3p6 - 3d10  Total: 2 + 6 + 10 = 18 electrons OR,
 2n2 = 2 x 32 =2 x 9 = 18 electrons
 The maximum number of electrons in a subshell (s, p, d or f) is equal to 2(2ℓ+1)
where ℓ = 0, 1, 2, 3... Thus these subshells can have a maximum of 2, 6, 10 and 14
electrons respectively. 
 E.g.: p orbital where ℓ = 1 (remember ℓ level for s = 0, for p=1, for d=2, and for f=3)
 2(2ℓ+1) = 2 x (2 x 1 +1) = 2 x (2 +1) = 6 electrons in p level
Chemical bonding

 Strong bonds
 Covalent Video: Covalent vs Ionic Bonds
 Ionic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSc491HLzDo&t=48s

 Metallic Video: Metallic bonds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ntOkgo7knY
 Chemical Reaction
 Chemical reactions are often used to modify surfaces of engineering materials.
 Chemical equations are used to represent chemical reactions. The substances to the left of
the arrow are the reactants, and those to the right of the arrow are the products. The
arrow is interpreted as “yields.”
Reaction Type Format Example

Synthesis reaction A + B → AB N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3

Decomposition reaction AB → A + B CuCO3 → CuO + CO2

Single replacement reaction A + BC → B + AC Cu + 2 AgNO3 → 2 Ag + Cu(NO3)2

Double replacement reaction AB + CD → AD + BC 2KI + Pb(NO3)2 → PbI2 + 2KNO3

 Numbers next to the formulas are known as coefficients. They indicate the relative numbers of
molecules of each substance involved in the reaction.
 Atoms are neither created nor destroyed in chemical reactions, and for this reason, a chemical
equation must have equal numbers of atoms of each element on each side of the arrow resulting
in a balanced equation. The smallest whole-number coefficients are used to balance the equation
OXIDATION - REDUCTION
Oxidation and Reduction
 OIL RIG
O : Oxidation Oxidation occurs when an
I : Involves atom or ion loses electrons.
L : Loss of electron

R : Reduction Reduction occurs when an

I : Involves atom or ion gains electrons.
G : Gain of electron

Metal Nonmetal
for Oxidation for Reduction
 Chemistry of Surfaces
“Oxidation Reaction”

4Al (s) + 3O2  2Al2O3

Al: 2 x ((3e-)x2) = 12 e-

O: 2 x ((2e-)x3) = 12 e-

8
O – 2e- to gain REDUCTION 13
Al – 3e- to lose OXIDATION
Chemistry of Surfaces
“Oxidation Reaction”

 Metal oxidation takes place when an ionic chemical

reaction occurs on a metal's surface while oxygen
is present. Electrons move from the metal to the
oxygen molecules during this process. Negative
oxygen ions then generate and enter the metal,
leading to the creation of an oxide surface. Oxidation
is a form of metal corrosion.

 Rust is an iron oxide, a usually reddish-brown oxide formed

by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence
of water or air moisture. Rust consists of hydrated iron(III)
oxides Fe2O3·nH2O and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH),
Fe(OH)3).
Physics Foundations In Surface
Engineering 

PHYSICS: The branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of
matter and energy. The subject matter of physics includes mechanics, heat,
light and other radiation, sound, electricity, magnetism, and the structure of
atoms

• Electromagnetic radiation
• Wave nature and particle nature of light
Energy E = work done W = Force x displacement = F x L
Joule Heating
Video 1.5 min: Thermal evaporation with Joule Heating
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4WzpZE-93U
 WAVE OR PARTICLE?
WHAT IS LIGHT? VIDEO
VIDEO 21
3.2 Electromagnetic Radiation
Europe: 50 Hz
USA: 60 Hz

𝛌2<𝛌1
2
𝛎2>𝛎1
3.2 Electromagnetic Radiation
Video: Frog motion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=aGuonxvHrro

⇀ ⇀
Video: B vs E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=RqSode4HZrE
 indigo
3.2 Electromagnetic Radiation - COLOR color

High 𝜆 Low 𝜆

R O Y G B I V
R O Y G B I V
E R E R L N I
D A L E U D O
N L E E I L
N G E
G O O T
E V

V I B G Y O R

mor  lacivert  mavi  yeşil  sarı  turuncu  kırmızı Pronunciation: (ROY-Gİ-BİV)

COLORS - VIDEO mnemonics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U1vOWjC4uA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bY8MVHf0JM
"Roy G. Biv" or sentences such as "Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain"
 3.2 Electromagnetic Radiation - COLOR
V I B G
mor  lacivert  mavi  yeşil  sarı  turuncu  kırmızı
COLORS - VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U1vOWjC4uA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bY8MVHf0JM
Radar cross-section (RCS), also
called radar signature, is a
measure of how detectable an
object is by radar. A larger RCS
Y O R indicates that an object is more
easily detected.
mnemonics
"Roy G. Biv" or sentences such as "Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain"
 3.2 Electromagnetic Radiation - COLOR
PVD or CVD Decorative coating Colors

To reproduce the same color products, one must

spectroscopically measure L*a*b values.

 L*: Lightness. a*: Red/Green Value. b*: Blue/Yellow Value

COLORS - VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bY8MVHf0JM
 WHAT is black body? WHAT IS QUANTUM? WHAT IS PHOTON?

Rayleigh–Jeans

Video 1 Black body radiation ultraviolet catastrophe

Video 2

Video 3 fits well to data!

3.2 Electromagnetic Radiation
Electromagnetic radiation can be released or absorbed by atoms in packets of energy. The energy, E,
of electromagnetic radiation equals a constant times the frequency (𝜈 ) of the radiation, as shown in
Equation below: 

E = h.𝜈   E(Joule) = h (Joule.s) x 𝜈 (1/s)

For UV light  E (Joule) = 6.626 × 10−34 J-s (joule-second)  x 8 × 1014 (1/s)
= 53 x 1014/1034 = 53x10-20 Joule

h, is called Planck’s constant and has a value 6.626 × 10−34 J-s (joule-second)  (1 calorie = 4.2 joules)

The relationship between speed, frequency, and wavelength is shown in Equation below: 

c =  𝜆.𝜈 (speed = length/time)

E=h.c/𝜆

Energy Conversions  1 Watt-hour is equal to 3600 Joules (3.6kJ)

 1 J = 0.00027777777777778 Wh
Wavelengths Associated with Electromagnetic Radiation

Unit Symbol Length (m) Type of Radiation

Angstrom Å 10−10 X-ray
Nanometer nm 10−9 Ultraviolet, visible
Micrometer μm 10−6 Infrared
Millimeter mm 10−3 Microwave
Centimeter cm 10−2 Microwave
Meter m 1 Television, radio
Kilometer km 1000 Radio
Wave nature of lıght
Wave nature of light
When out of phase
light waves arrive
at a point on the
screen the waves
cancel, and
destructive
interference
occurs (Figure
3.5b) producing
dark fringes.

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9tKncAdlHQ
photoelectric effect

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-1zjdUTu0o
Review of atomic orbitals

1 s 1 x 2e-

2 p 3 x 2e-

3 d 5 x 2e-

4 f 7 x 2e-

Video 9 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aoi4j8es4gQ

SURFACE ENGINEERING PROCESSES
Surface engineering processes can be classified as follows:

 Galvanizing. A process where ferrous articles are dipped into molten zinc
(or an alloy of zinc) to produce a relatively thick surface layer giving
protection against corrosion.
 Tinning. A process where ferrous articles are dipped into molten tin (or
an alloy of tin) to produce a relatively thick layer of tin (or tin alloy).
 Metal spraying. A technique for uniquely transferring metals by the use of
heat, plasma, or arc to the surfaces of prepared components.
 Vitreous enameling. The application of metallic glass containing liquids
by dipping or spraying techniques on to ferrous components e.g., kitchen
hobs. (Emaye kaplama)
 Mechanical treatments
 PVD and CVD coating processes
Surface engineering processes can be classified as follows:

 Aqueous electrolytic, normally consisting of electroplating of metal coatings, anodizing of

aluminum and titanium, as well as the electropolishing of stainless steel.
 Electroless processes for those metals, notably copper, nickel, gold and tin that can be
applied by chemical reduction methods and avoid the use of electrolytic energy.
 Aqueous non-electrolytic typically cleaning, pickling, phosphating, passivation, mechanical
plating and a variety of other coloring processes, e.g., "blacking" of steel.
 Organic (liquid) which can be solvent (or water) based but applies pigmented or metal
containing coatings by dipping, dip-spinning, flow coating, conventional spraying, or in the
case of water-based paints, by electrophoretic or auto-catalytic means.
 Organic (powder), the application of dry powders, usually by the process of electrostatic
spraying or by fluidized bed techniques.
 Heat treatment. The use of heat, sometimes with specific gases, to metallurgically alter the
structure and mechanical properties of a component. The component may be stress relieved,
softened or hardened or even changed in composition (diffusion) especially where unique
surface properties are desired.
ANOTHER
CLASIFICATION: