CHAPTER 5:

DIFFUSION
Jimenez, Sheena
Magsombol, Frances Anne
 HIGHLIGHTS
DIFFUSION: INTRODUCTION

DIFFUSION MECHANISMS

STEADY-STATE DIFFUSION

NONSTEADY-STATE DIFFUSION

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE DIFFUSION RATE

APPLICATIONS
result of kinetic properties

spreading more widely

movement of a fluid
physical process
atomic motion
Introduction

Diffusion Couple is formed by joining bars

of two different metals together so that
there is intimate contact between the two
faces

Interdiffusion (Impurity Diffusion) is the

process by which atoms of one metal diffuse
into another.

Self-interdiffusion is diffusion in one-component material. Adapted from Fig 5.1.

Callister and Redwitsch 9e.
Introduction

Before After

Adapted from Fig 5.1 and 5.2.

Callister and Redwitsch 9e.
Diffusion Mechanism

Two conditions for atoms to move:

(1) there must be an empty adjacent site
(2) the atom must have sufficient energy to break bonds with its
neighbor atoms
Diffusion Mechanism

Vacancy Diffusion is the interchange of an atom from a normal

lattice position to an adjacent vacant lattice site or vacancy.

Adapted from Fig 5.3.

Callister and Redwitsch 9e.
Diffusion Mechanism

Interstitial Diffusion involves atoms that migrate from an interstitial

position to a neighboring one that is empty. In most metal alloys,
interstitial diffusion occurs much more rapidly than diffusion by the
vacancy mode.

Adapted from Fig 5.3.

Callister and Redwitsch 9e.
Steady-State Diffusion

Steady State Diffusion is a state wherein the diffusion flux does

not change with time, such that there is no net accumulation of
diffusing species in the plate.

Diffusion flux (J) quantifies how fast diffusion occurs.

A - area across which diffusion is

M occurring
J=
A t t - is the elapsed diffusion time.
J diffusion flux (kg/m 2 s or atoms/m 2 s)
Steady-State Diffusion

Adapted from Fig 5.4.

Callister and Redwitsch 9e.
 Steady-State Diffusion

FICKS FIRST LAW

The molar flux due to diffusion is proportional to the concentration gradient.

J flux of atoms, atoms/(m 2 s)

dC
J = -D D diffusivity or diffusion coefficient, m 2 /s
dx dC/dx concentration gradient,
atoms/m 4

concentration dC C CA CB
gradient : = =
dx x xA xB
Steady-State Diffusion
Example:
Nonsteady-State Diffusion

Nonsteady State Diffusion is a state wherein the diffusion

flux and the concentration gradient at some particular
point in a solid vary with time
 Nonsteady-State Diffusion
FICKS SECOND LAW
The rate of change of concentration at a point in space is proportional to the
second derivative of concentration with space.
J flux of atoms, atoms/(m 2 s)
C 2C D diffusivity or diffusion coefficient, m 2 /s
=D 2
t dC/dx concentration gradient, atoms/m 4
Initial condition
For t = 0, C = C0 at 0 x
Boundary conditions
For t > 0, C = Cs (the constant surface concentration) at x = 0
For t = 0, C = C0 at x =
Nonsteady-State Diffusion
surf. C of element in gas diffusing into the
surface
initial uniform concentration of element in solid
x distance from the surface
= erf D- diffusivity of diffusing solute element
2
t time
erf error function

=
2
Nonsteady-State Diffusion

Adapted from Fig 5.5. Adapted from Fig 5.6.

Callister and Redwitsch 9e. Callister and Redwitsch 9e.
Nonsteady-State Diffusion
Example:
Factors That Influence Diffusion

DIFFUSING SPECIES and HOST MATERIAL

Diffusion coefficient (D)

-rate at which atoms diffuse
Factors That Influence Diffusion
Factors That Influence Diffusion

TEMPERATURE

where:
Do = a temperature-independent preexponential (m2/s)
Qd = the activation energy for diffusion (J/mol or eV/atom)
R = the gas constant, 8.31 J/mol-K or 8.62 x 10-5 eV/atom-K
T = absolute temperature (K)
 Factors That Influence Diffusion

Natural Logarithms
Natural logarithms:

(to the base 10)

Factors That Influence Diffusion

Plot of the
logarithm of the
diffusion
coefficient versus
the reciprocal of
absolute
temperature for
several metals.
 Factors That Influence Diffusion

Example Problem 1

Using the data in the given table,

compute the diffusion coefficient for
magnesium in aluminum at 550o C.
Factors That Influence Diffusion
 Factors That Influence Diffusion

Solution:

Do= 1.2 x 10-4 m2/s

Qd = 131 kJ/mol
(131,000/)
D = (1.2 x 10-4 m2/s)exp[ ]
(8.31 )(550+273)

D = 5.76 x 10-13 m2/s

 Factors That Influence Diffusion

Example Problem 2
 Factors That Influence Diffusion
Solution:
Factors That Influence Diffusion
Factors That Influence Diffusion

D2 = 15.7 x 10-11 m2/s

 Applications

Dopant diffusion for semiconductor devices

Conductive ceramics
Coatings and thin films
Thermal barrier coatings for turbine blades
Optical fibers and microelectronic components
Creation of plastic
beverage bottles
Oxidation of aluminum
Carburization for
surface hardening of
steels