Test for MECH2419 Properties of Materials

Date: 22nd October, 2015

Time: 12:30pm-1:10pm

Name of student: ___________________________ (Write clearly in block letters)

University Number: ________________________
Instructions: Answer ALL questions in the spaces provided below. You may use a
calculator.

(1) Sketch the unit cells for the ferrite and austenite phases of iron. In the unit cell for
austenite, indicate the (111) plane, and in a separate drawing, sketch the atomic
positions on this plane. Repeat these steps for the (110) plane in the unit cell for ferrite.
(8 marks)
Answer:
Ferrite has BCC structure

(1 mark)

(BCC structure 1 mark, (110) plane 2 marks)

Austenite has FCC structure

(1 mark)

(FCC structure 1 mark, (111) plane 2 marks)

(2) Given that the lattice constant of austenite Fe is 3.52, estimate the lattice constant of
ferrite Fe. The atomic mass of Fe is 55.85gmol-1. Calculate the densities (mass per unit
volume) of both the ferrite and austenite forms of Fe. [Hint: Avogadros number = 6.02
1023 .]
(6 marks)
Answer:
3 = 2 = 4 (atomic radius)
So, = 2/3 = 2/3 3.52 = 2.87

(2 marks)

Densities:
In bcc (ferrite), there are 2 atoms,
so density =

255.85103 /(6.021023 )
(2.871010 )3

= 7848.9 kgm-3.

(2 marks)

= 8508.6 kgm-3.

(2 marks)

In fcc (austenite), there are 4 atoms,

so density =

455.85103 /(6.021023 )
(3.521010 )3

(3) The energy U of a solid crystal is represented by the following equation:

U

A B

rm rn

where r is the separation between atoms, m = 2 and n = 10. Given that the equilibrium
atomic spacing occurs at r 3 10 10 m and U 4 eV, calculate the values of A and
B. Calculate also the stiffness of an atomic bond at its equilibrium length, and estimate
the Young modulus of the crystal.
(8 marks)

Answer:
The energy function now reads: U

At equilibrium at r ro , force F

Uo

A B
.

r 2 r 10

Ar 8
2 A 10 B
dU 2 A 10 B
3 11 0 , so 3 11 or B o .
5
dr
ro
ro
r
r

A Aro8
4A
10 2
2
ro 5ro
5ro

5ro2U o 5 0.32 4

0.45 eV nm2 = 7.2 10 20 J nm2

4
4

(2 marks)

Aro8 0.45 0.38

B

0.59 10 5 eV nm10 = 9.4 10 25 J nm10.

5
5

(2 marks)

or A

Stiffness =

2
2

(
3

10
11

)|

= 4 +

= 1.41 1016 J nm-2 = 141 N/m

141

0.3

Youngs modulus = =

= 470 GPa

110

12

67.21020
(0.3)4

1109.41025
(0.3)12

(2 marks)
(2 marks)

~ 3%

~ 21%

Questions 4 to 7 concern the Al-rich side of the Al-Cu phase diagram shown below:

(4) Which of the following statements are true?

(A) 10 wt.% of Cu can dissolve homogeneously into Al at 500C.
(B) The phase is a substitutional alloy with the FCC structure.
(C) The -CuAl2 phase contains roughly 1 Al atom out of every 3 atoms.
(D) An Al-Cu alloy with 4 wt.% Cu well equilibrated at room temperature should consist
of two solid phases.
(E) The solubility of Cu into Al decreases with increasing temperature from room
temperature to ~540C.
(F) There is no eutectic reaction in the Al-Cu phase diagram.
Answer (e.g. A and B, etc.): __B and D__________________ (2 marks)

As shown in the phase diagram above, an Al-Cu alloy containing 10 wt % of Cu overall

would be partially melted when maintained at 600C for sufficient time. Determine the
following from the phase diagram:
(5) Weight % of Cu in the liquid phase at 600C: _~21%_(see red line in phase diagram
above) (2 marks)
(6) Weight % of Cu in the solid phase at 600C: __~3%_(see blue line)__ (2 marks)
(7) % by weight of the liquid phase present in the alloy at 600C: By lever rule, (10-3)/(213) = 38.9% (2 marks)
4

Total mark of paper = 30

Report mark as xx/30, e.g. 25/30