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Lec 11 ESE 825 Diffusion

The document discusses solid state diffusion, including how diffusion occurs in materials through processes like vacancy diffusion and interstitial diffusion. It provides examples of diffusion in applications like carburization of steel and formation of p-n junctions in semiconductors. Fick's first law of diffusion relating flux to concentration gradient is also explained.

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11 views12 pages

Lec 11 ESE 825 Diffusion

The document discusses solid state diffusion, including how diffusion occurs in materials through processes like vacancy diffusion and interstitial diffusion. It provides examples of diffusion in applications like carburization of steel and formation of p-n junctions in semiconductors. Fick's first law of diffusion relating flux to concentration gradient is also explained.

Uploaded by

Maina Physicist
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Materials Science and Engineering

1
Solid State Diffusion

• Materials of all types are often heat-treated to improve their properties.


• The phenomena that occur during a heat treatment almost always involve
atomic diffusion.
• Often an enhancement of diffusion rate is desired; on occasion measures are
taken to reduce it.
• Heat-treating temperatures and times and/or cooling rates are often
predictable using the mathematics of diffusion and appropriate diffusion
constants.
• The steel gear shown on previous slide has been case hardened that is, its
hardness and resistance to failure by fatigue have been enhanced by
diffusing excess carbon or nitrogen into the outer surface layer.
• In the processing/structure/properties/performance scheme, reasons for
studying diffusion are as follows:
Ø • Diffusional processes (conducted at elevated temperatures) are often
utilized to introduce impurity atoms into silicon semiconductors. Thus, a
knowledge of the time and temperature dependences of appropriate
diffusion parameters is necessary.
Ø • Likewise, the heat treatment of steels (and the development of their
mechanical properties) involves diffusion.
Diffusion
Higher carbon in steel Negatives
Positives
Wear resistance Low machinability (to form gears)
higher hardness Higher price
More Fe3C

• Table tells us two contradictory


requirements
• Optimization required
• Wear resistance is required only on
surface
• Surface of higher carbon, rest bulk of Steels Cast Iron
low carbon steel
Diffusion
Carburization
Low carbon steel

Machinability, shape the gear

Carburization: Surface carbon


concentration increased
Carburized surface

Carburization: is a type of heat treatment low carbon steel is heated in a carbonaceous


environment e.g. by packing it in carbon powder or gaseous atmosphere (like hydrocarbon
gases)
But, how does carbon from outside atmosphere gets into the steel. That is the process of
diffusion. Carbon diffuses into the steel by diffusion and enrich the surface.
Diffusion
Carburization
• The photograph is of a steel gear that has been case hardened. Its outer
surface layer was selectively hardened by a high-temperature heat
treatment during which carbon from the surrounding atmosphere diffused
into the surface.
• The “case” appears as the dark outer rim of that segment of the gear that
has been sectioned.
• This increase in the carbon content raises the surface hardness which in
turn leads to an improvement of wear resistance of the gear. In addition,
residual compressive stresses are introduced within the case region; these
give rise to an enhancement of the gear’s resistance to failure by fatigue
while in Service
Diffusion
P-N junction formation

• Another classic example is forming of a p-n junction


• P and n junctions are not welded together

Crystalline solar cells


Diffusion
Cu-Ni diffusion
c
b
a

(a) A Copper–nickel diffusion couple before a high-temperature heat treatment. (b)


Schematic representations of Cu (red circles) and Ni (blue circles) atom locations within
the diffusion couple. (c) Concentrations of copper and nickel as a function of position
across the couple.

(a) A Copper–nickel diffusion couple after a high-temperature heat treatment, showing


the alloyed diffusion zone. (b) Schematic representations of Cu (red circles) and Ni (blue
circles) atom locations within the couple. (c) Concentrations of copper and nickel as a
function of position across the couple.
Diffusion
Diffusion in Solids

• Vacancy Diffusion:
The interchange of an atom from a normal
lattice position to an adjacent vacant lattice
site or vacancy, this mechanism is aptly termed
vacancy diffusion.
• Interstitial Diffusion:
Most metal alloys, interstitial diffusion occurs
much more rapidly than diffusion by the
vacancy mode, because the interstitial atoms
are smaller and thus more mobile.
Furthermore, there are more empty interstitial
positions than vacancies; hence, the
probability of interstitial atomic movement is
greater than for vacancy diffusion.
Schematic representations of (a) vacancy
diffusion and (b) interstitial diffusion.
Ø In most metal alloys, interstitial diffusion occurs much more rapidly than diffusion by
the vacancy mode, because the interstitial atoms are smaller and thus more mobile.
Furthermore, there are more empty interstitial positions than vacancies; hence, the
probability of interstitial atomic movement is greater than for vacancy diffusion
Diffusion
Fick’s first law

Heat flow Charge Flow Mass Flow


Flux Heat Flux q Charge Flux j Mass Flux j
Jm-2s-1 (Current density) Kgm-2s-1 or molm-2s-1)
Am-2 or Cm-2s-1
Gradient/ Temperature gradient Potential Gradient Concentration
Driving dt/dx dv/dx Gradient dC/dx
force

Law Fourier's law of heat Ohm’s law Fick’s first law


conduction j = -sigma dv/dx J = -D dC/dx
Q = -k (dt/dx) C= kgm-3, or molm-3

Material Thermal conductivity Electrical Conductivity Diffusivity or Diffusion


property K Coefficient
(Wm-1K-1) Sm-1 or ohm-1m-1 (m2s-1)
(S= Siemens)

Year 1807 1827 1855


Solid State Diffusion
Fick’s first law

• How the heat flux is related to temperature gradient and that law is known as
Fourier's law of heat conduction
• Charge Flow is proportional to electrical potential gradient
• Mass flux is proportional to concentration gradient
Diffusion
Fick’s first law

J = -D dc/dx
Diffusion
Steady State and Unsteady State

Steady State Diffusion: Concentration is independent of time

Unsteady State Diffusion: Concentration changes with time

C
Cs

Co

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