Chapter 5 Questions:

(1) 5.5 Carbon diffuses in iron via an interstitial mechanismfor BCC iron from one
tetrahedral site to an adjacent one. In Section 4.3 (Figure 4.3b) we note that a general set
1

11
24

of point coordinates for this site are

. Specify the family of crystallographic directions
in which this diffusion of carbon in BCC iron takes place.
Solution
Below is shown a schematic BCC unit cell, and in
addition the representation of an interstitial atom
1

1 1
2 4

located in a
tetrahedral site. In addition, an
arrow has been drawn from this atom to a nearest
1

1 1

2 4

1
4

tetrahedral site: from

to
. (Note: These
point coordinates are referenced to the coordinate
system having its origin located at the center of the
bottom, rear atom, the one labeled with an O.)

Using the procedure detailed in Section 3.9 for determining the crystallographic direction
of a vector (i.e., subtraction of vector tail coordinates from head coordinates) coordinates
1

for this

1 1

1 1
1
2 4

2 4

to

vector are as follows:

1
2

1
2

x coordinate:
1

1
2

y coordinate:
4

=0

z coordinate:

In order to reduce these coordinates to integers it is necessary to multiply each by the

[110]

factor "2". Therefore, this vector points in a

direction.

Thus, the family of crystallographic directions for the diffusion of interstitial atoms in BCC
metals is 110.

(2) 5.7 (a) Briefly explain the concept of a driving force.

(b) What is the driving force for steady-state diffusion?

Answer
(a) The driving force is that which compels a reaction to occur.
(b) The driving force for steady-state diffusion is the concentration gradient.

(3) 5.8 The purification of hydrogen gas by diffusion through a palladium sheet was
discussed in Section 5.3. Compute the number of kilograms of hydrogen that pass per
hour through a 6-mm thick sheet of palladium having an area of 0.25 m2 at 600C.
Assume a diffusion coefficient of 1.7 108 m2/s, that the respective concentrations at
the high- and low-pressure sides of the plate are 2.0 and 0.4 kg of hydrogen per cubic
meter of palladium, and that steady-state conditions have been attained.

Solution
This problem calls for the mass of hydrogen, per hour, that diffuses through a Pd sheet. It
first becomes necessary to employ both Equations 5.1 and 5.2. Combining these
expressions and solving for the mass yields
M = J At = DAt

C
x

0.4 2.0 kg/m 3

= (1.7 10 8 m 2 /s)(0.25 m 2 ) (3600 s/h)

4.1 10 3 kg/h
M

6 103 m

(4) 5.10 A sheet of BCC iron 2-mm thick was exposed to a carburizing gas atmosphere
on one side and a decarburizing atmosphere on the other side at 675C. After reaching
steady state, the iron was quickly cooled to room temperature. The carbon concentrations
at the two surfaces of the sheet were determined to be 0.015 and 0.0068 wt%,
respectively. Compute the diffusion coefficient if the diffusion flux is 7.36 109 kg/m2.s.
Hint: Use Equation 4.9 to convert the concentrations from weight percent to kilograms of
carbon per cubic meter of iron.
Solution
Let us first convert the carbon concentrations from weight percent to kilograms carbon per
meter cubed using Equation 4.9a; the densities of carbon and iron are 2.25 g/cm3 and
7.87 g/cm3. For 0.015 wt% C
CC =

CC
103
CC CFe

C Fe

0.015

0.015
2.25 g/cm 3

103

99.985
7.87 g/cm 3

1.18 kg C/m3

Similarly, for 0.0068 wt% C

CC =

0.0068
103
99.9932

2.25 g/cm 3 7.87 g/cm 3

0.0068

= 0.535 kg C/m3

Now, using a rearranged form of Equation 5.2

D= J

x xB
x
= J A

C
CA CB

and incorporating values of plate thickness and diffusion flux, provided in the problem
statement, as well as the two concentrations of carbon determined above, the diffusion
coefficient is computed as follows:

2 10 3 m

0.535 kg/m 3 1.18 kg/m 3

D= (7.36 10-9 kg/m 2 -s)

11

D = 2.3 10

m2/s

(5) 5.13 Determine the carburizing time necessary to achieve a carbon concentration
of 0.30 wt% at a position 4 mm into an ironcarbon alloy that initially contains 0.10 wt% C.
The surface concentration is to be maintained at 0.90 wt% C, and the treatment is to be
conducted at 1100C. Use the diffusion data for -Fe in Table 5.2.

Solution
We are asked to compute the carburizing (i.e., diffusion) time required for a specific
nonsteady-state diffusion situation. It is first necessary to use Equation 5.5:
Cx C0

x
= 1 erf
Cs C0
2 Dt

wherein, Cx = 0.30, C0 = 0.10, Cs = 0.90, and x = 4 mm = 4 103 m. Thus,

Cx C0 0.30 0.10

x
=
= 0.2500 = 1 erf
Cs C0 0.90 0.10
2 Dt

or

x
erf
= 1 0.2500 = 0.7500
2 Dt

By linear interpolation using data from Table 5.1

z

erf(z)

0.80

0.7421

0.7500

0.85

0.7707

which leads to the following:

z 0.800
0.7500 0.7421
=
0.850 0.800 0.7707 0.7421

From which
z = 0.814 =

x
2 Dt

Now, from Table 5.2, data for the diffusion of carbon into -iron are as follows:
D0 = 2.3 105 m2/s
Qd = 148,000 J/mol
Therefore at 1100C (1373 K)

148,000 J/mol
D = (2.3 10-5 m 2 /s) exp

(8.31 J/mol-K)(1373 K)

= 5.35 1011 m2/s

Thus,
4 103 m

0.814 =
(2)

(5.35 1011 m 2 /s) (t)

Solving for t yields

t

(4 10 3 m)2

(2)2 (0.814)2 (5.35 10 11 m 2 /s)

t = 1.13 105 s = 31.3 h

(6) 5.17

Consider a diffusion couple composed of two cobalt-iron alloys; one has a

composition of 75 wt% Co-25 wt% Fe; the other alloy composition is 50 wt% Co-50 wt%
Fe. If this couple is heated to a temperature of 800C (1073 K) for 20,000 s, determine
how far from the original interface into the 50 wt% Co-50 wt% Fe alloy the composition
has increased to 52 wt%Co-48 wt% Fe. For the diffusion coefficient, assume values of 6.6
10-6 m2/s and 247,000 J/mol, respectively, for the preexponential and activation energy.

Solution
This problem calls for us to determine the value of the distance, x, in Equation 5.15
given the following values:
C1 = 75 wt% Co
C2 = 50 wt% Co
Cx = 52 wt% Co
T = 1073 K
t = 20,000 s
D0 = 6.6 10-6 m2/s
Qd = 247,000 J/mol

Let us first of all compute the value of the diffusion coefficient D using Equation 5.8:
Q
D D0 exp d
RT

247,000 J/mol
(6.6 106 m 2 /s)exp

(8.31 J/moliK)(1073 K)

6.15 1018 m 2 /s

Now incorporating values for all of the parameters except x into Equation 5.15 leads to

75 wt% Co 50 wt% Co
x

52 wt% Co 50 wt% Co +
1 erf

2 (6.15 1018 m 2 /s)( 20,000 s)

This expression reduces to the following:

x
7.01 107 m

0.8400 erf

From Table 5.1 to determine the value of z when erf(z) = 0.8400 an interpolation
procedure is necessary as follows:
z

erf(z)

0.95
z
1.0

0.8209
0.8400
0.8427
z 0.95 0.8400 0.8209

1.0 0.95 0.8427 0.8209

And solving for z we have

z = 0.994
Which means that
x
7.01 107 m

0.994

Or that
x (7.01 107 m)(0.994)
6.97 107 m 0.697 m

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED CONCEPT QUESTIONS:

5.1 Briefly explain the difference between self-diffusion and interdiffusion.

Answer
Self-diffusion is atomic migration in pure metals--i.e., when all atoms exchanging positions
are of the same type. Interdiffusion is diffusion of atoms of one metal into another metal.

5.2 Self-diffusion involves the motion of atoms that are all of the same type; therefore, it
is not subject to observation by compositional changes, as with interdiffusion. Suggest one
way in which self-diffusion may be monitored.

Answer
Self-diffusion may be monitored by using radioactive isotopes of the metal being studied.
The motion of these isotopic atoms may be detected by measurement of radioactivity
level.

5.3 (a) Compare interstitial and vacancy atomic mechanisms for diffusion.
(b) Cite two reasons why interstitial diffusion is normally more rapid than vacancy
diffusion.

Answer
(a) With vacancy diffusion, atomic motion is from one lattice site to an adjacent vacancy.
Self-diffusion and the diffusion of substitutional impurities proceed via this mechanism. On
the other hand, atomic motion is from interstitial site to adjacent interstitial site for the
interstitial diffusion mechanism.
(b) Interstitial diffusion is normally more rapid than vacancy diffusion because: (1)
interstitial atoms, being smaller, are more mobile; and (2) the probability of an empty
adjacent interstitial site is greater than for a vacancy adjacent to a host (or substitutional
impurity) atom.

5.6 Briefly explain the concept of steady state as it applies to diffusion.

Answer
Steady-state diffusion is the situation wherein the rate of diffusion into a given system is
just equal to the rate of diffusion out, such that there is no net accumulation or depletion
of diffusing species--i.e., the diffusion flux is independent of time.