ENGR45: Introduction to Materials Summer 2013 Homework Set 1 Solutions

1.1. (Multiple choice) The optimum sequence of events in materials selection is: (a) Processing constrains applications, which constrain composition, which constrains properties. (b) Applications constrain properties, which constrain composition and microstructure, which constrain processing. (c) Applications constrain properties, which constrain composition but not microstructure. (d) Microstructure constrains properties, which constrain composition, which constrains processing. (e) Microstructure constrains composition, which constrains properties, which constrain processing.

There are complex interdependencies between materials (composition and microstructure), processing, properties and applications. Materials selection is an organized sequence of steps for navigating through these interrelationships so that we reliably pick the right material for the job. This organized sequence was described in Lecture 1 (slide 10): starting with an application, we determine required properties, then identify candidate materials (composition, microstructure), then identify required processing. Answer: (b).

1.2. (Multiple choice) Which one of the following statements about metals is false? (a) High thermal expansion coefficients are associated with high melting temperatures. (b) High bond energies are associated with high melting temperatures. (c) High thermal expansion coefficients are associated with low stiffness. (d) Low bond energies are associated with high thermal expansion coefficients. (e) Low stiffness is associated with low melting temperatures.

The following qualitative relationships between bond energy and other physical quantities can be gleaned from Lecture 2 (slides 20-22): high bond energy implies high melting temperature low thermal expansion coefficient high stiffness low melting temperature high thermal expansion coefficient low stiffness

low bond energy

implies

Answer: (a).

1.3. If the bond in a diatomic molecule has 60% covalent character, what does this tell us about the atoms that make up the molecule?

The bond will have 40% ionic character. From Lecture 2 (slide 17):
( X A ! XB ) % " ! 4 % ionic character = $ 1 ! e ' x 100 # & where XA and XB are Pauling electronegativities.
2

The question invites us to consider:

" ! 40 = $ 1 ! e #
"

( X A ! X B )2 4

% ' x 100 &

! 1" e ! e
"

( X A " X B )2 4

= 0.4

( X A " X B )2 4

= 0.6

! "

( X A " X B )2 = ln 0.6 4

! ( X A " XB )2 = " 4 ln 0.6

! X A " XB = "4 ln 0.6

= 1.43
i.e. the atoms differ in electronegativity by 1.43 .

1.4. (i) (ii)

On a printout of the accompanying pattern, select an arbitrary, recognizable point, and then mark all the other points that have identical environments. Outline a unit mesh that is both primitive and conventional, explaining what makes your choice both primitive and conventional.

(iii) On a second printout of the pattern, clearly mark the positions of any and all mirror planes and rotational symmetry axes. You should use the proper color and symbols.

The marked patterns are on the next two pages. The unit mesh drawn in answer to part (ii) is primitive because it contains only one mesh point. It is conventional because it emphasizes the highest (4-fold; tetrad) symmetry of the pattern.

1.5. (Multiple choice) Which one of the following statements is true? (a) The planar density of the close-packed planes in iron at room temperature is greater than the planar density of 1 1 0 in iron at room temperature. (b) The planar density of the close-packed planes in iron at room temperature is less than the planar density of 1 1 0 in iron at room temperature. (c) (d) (e) The planar density of (111) in iron at room temperature is greater than the planar density of (110 ) in iron at room temperature. The planar density of (111) in iron at room temperature is greater than the planar density of 1 1 0 in iron at room temperature. The planar density of (111) in iron at room temperature is less than the planar density of 1 1 0 in iron at room temperature.

Iron at room temperature is BCC, and therefore has no close-packed planes. This eliminates answers (a) and (b) from further consideration. In a cubic crystal, planes (110 ) and (1 1 0 ) are in the same family, and are equivalent. So answers (c) and (d) are either both right or both wrong. But we are told that only one of the answers is true. So answers (c) and (d) must both be wrong. This leaves answer (e) as the correct answer. We can check this as follows: From Lecture 4, slide 15 we know that the planar density of (111) in iron at room temperature is 0.70 x1019 atoms/m2. Diagram shows (110) plane in !-iron. The 2D repeat unit is a rectangle that has sides a and There are 2 atoms in the 2D repeat unit. The planar density of (110) is therefore P =

2a

2 2 a2

But for BCC, 4 R = 3 a (atoms touch along cube body diagonal); R is the atomic radius. So P =

2
2

16 2 ! 4R$ R 2# & 3 " 3% = 17.2 atoms/nm2 = 1.72 x 1019 atoms/m2.

3 2 3 2 = 2 2 16 R 16 ( 0.1241nm )

So answer (e) is confirmed.

1.6. (Multiple choice) Consider a single crystal of "-iron. How many different planes are implicit in the notation {1 2 3} ? (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) 1. 3. 8. 32. 48.

"-iron is cubic. In cubic crystals, axes x, y and z are indistinguishable. So the members of {123} can be generated by permuting the indices through all positions. We can easily count the permutations by organizing them systematically on a grid:

(123) (123) (123) (123) (1 2 3) (1 2 3) (12 3) (1 2 3) (132) (213) (312) (231) (321)
The 6 rows and 8 columns in the grid demonstrate that there are 48 planes in the {123} family, if the crystal is cubic. The answer is (e).

1.7. You are provided with two diagrams (attached) of a body centered cubic unit cell. (i) (ii) On one diagram, sketch the (110) plane. On the other diagram, sketch the (111) plane.

(iii) Does the atom in the middle of the unit cell lie on the (111) plane? Explain your answer by referring to your two diagrams.

(i)

(ii)

(iii) No it does not. Consider the midpoints of the top and bottom faces of the cube in diagram (i). Both points lie in the (110) plane, and therefore so does the straight line joining those points. The straight line passes through the center of the unit cell. Therefore the atom at the middle of the unit cell must also lie on the (110) plane. Now consider the (111) plane in diagram (ii). It can be constructed by taking the (110) plane, maintaining the intercepts with the x- and y- axes, and tilting it back so that it intersects the zaxis. When the (110) plane is tilted in the way, it will no longer pass through the center of the unit cell, and so the atom at the middle of the unit cell cannot lie on the (111) plane.