Lecture 28

Diffusion in
crystalline solids

Mathematical models of Diffusion

Atomisitic mechanism of Diffusion

Introduction
Diffusion importance
Oxidation of metals

Diffusion bonding
Hardening of steels

Creep
Doping
Many other processes

Introduction
We have seen in the lectures of phase
diagrams variation in chemical composition of
different phases at different temperatures

How this is possible??

This is possible because atomistic diffusion
takes place in solids

Diffusion
Diffusion can be defined as the process of mass flow or
motion of atoms by which atoms or molecules change their
position relative to their neighbours.
Examples:
1. Gases: Bottle of Ammonia
2. Liquids: Ink in water
3. Solids: Brass in connection with pure Cu

Diffusion in solid state takes place to a limited distance

and that too at a much slower rate than liquid and gaseous
states

Diffusion
Mass flow process by which species
change their position relative to their
neighbours

Driven by thermal energy and a gradient

Thermal energy thermal vibrations
atomic jumps
Gradient: Concentration gradient

DIFFUSION
Interdiffusion: In an alloy, atoms tend to migrate
from regions of large concentration.
Initially

After some time

100%

0
Concentration Profiles

Mathematical models of
Diffusion

Definition/Assumptions
Flux (J) Flow/area/time [Atoms/m2/s]

Directional Quantity

Assume one dimensional flow of matter

Assume that only B is moving into A

Assume steady state conditions

J f(x,t) (No accumulation of matter)

J atoms/ area/ time concentration gradient

dc
J
dx

dc
J D
dx
1 dn
dc
J
D
A dt
dx
dn
dc
DA
dt
dx

Ficks first law in one dimension

Ficks I law

Diffusion coefficient/ diffusivity

No. of atoms
crossing area A
per unit time

dn
dc
DA
dt
dx

Cross-sectional area

Concentration gradient

Matter transport is down the concentration gradient

Flow direction
A

The above law can be used to describe steady state diffusion

Steady state diffusion

In steady state diffusion there is neither accumulation nor
depletion of the diffusing species anywhere in the medium at
any time

Constant

D f(c)

C1

Concentration

dc
J D
dx

D = f(c)
x

Diffusivity (D) f(A, B, T)

C2

Non Steady state diffusion

(More general situation)

Ficks Second Law

x

Jx

Jx+x

Total number of species accumulated in

volume in t time [Flux entered from left
Flux exited from right] in area A and time t

Ficks II law
x

Jx

Accumulation J x J xx
Jx+x

Accumulation J x J x x
x

J
c

x J x J x x
x
t

Atoms 1 Atoms
m3 s .m m2 s J

J
c
x x
x
t

c
c
D
x
x
t

c c
D
t x x

D f(x)

Ficks first law

2c
c
D 2
x
t