1

MLE1101 Tutorial 3 - Suggested Solutions

1. Calculate the number of atoms in a critically sized nucleus for the homogeneous nucleation
of pure iron. Assume AT (undercooling) = 0.2 T
m
. Use the data for pure iron as follows. Latent
heat of fusion = 2098 J/cm
3
, Surface energy = 20410
7
J/cm
2
, Melting temperature = 1808K
and lattice constant for its BCC unit cell = 0.28664 nm.

Solution:
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )( )
7 2
* 10
3
2 204 10 J/cm 1808K
2 2
9.72 10 m
0.2
2098J/cm 0.2 1808K
m m
f f m
T T
r
H T H T

= = = =
A A A

( )
3
3 10 27 3
4 4
vol. of critical-sized nucleus * 9.72 10 m 3.85 10 m
3 3
r x t t

= = =
( )
3
3 9 29 3
vol. of 1 unit cell of Fe 0.28664 10 m 2.355 10 m a

= = =


Since there are two atoms per BCC unit cell,

= =
29 3
29 3
2.355 10 m
Volume / atom 1.178 10 m
2

= =

27 3
29 3
vol. of nucleus 3.85 10 m
327 atoms
Volume/atom 1.178 10 m



2. Calculate the radius of the largest interstitial void in the BCC o iron lattice. The atomic radius
of the iron atoms in this lattice is 0.124 nm, and the largest interstitial voids occur at the
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1
4 2 2 4 4 2 2 4
, ,0 ; , ,0 ; , ,0 and , ,0 etc., type positions.

Solution:
For BCC structure,
( ) 4 0.124nm 4
0.286nm
3 3
R
a = = =

Let x = Fe atom radius + Interstitial void radius,
( )
2 2
2 2
2
2
5
4 2 16
5 5
0.286nm 0.160nm
16 16
a a
x a
x a
| | | |
= + =
| |
\ . \ .
= = =


void Fe
interstitial void radius, 0.160nm 0.124nm 0.036nm R x R = = =




2


3. Describe and illustrate the edge- and screw-type dislocations. What types of strain fields
surround both types of dislocations?

Solution:
An edge dislocation is a line imperfection caused by an extra half plane of atoms between
two normal planes of atoms. Whereas a screw dislocation is a line imperfection created by
applying upward and downward shear stress to regions of a perfect crystal separated by a
common plane.









The strain fields associated with the edge and screw dislocations are shown below:









4. If there are 400 grains per square inch on a photomicrograph of a ceramic material at 200,
what is the ASTM grain-size number of the material?

Solution:
( )( )
1
1600 2
ln1600 1 ln2
10.64 1 11.64
n
N
n
n

= =
=
= + =









3

5. (a) Calculate the equilibrium concentration of vacancies per cubic meter in pure copper
at 850
o
C. Assume that the energy of formation of a vacancy in pure copper is 1.00
eV, constant C = 1.
(b) What is the vacancy fraction at 800
o
C?
(Atomic mass of copper = 63.54 g/mol; density of copper = 8.96 g/cm
3
; Avogadros
constant = 6.0210
23
atoms/mol; Boltzmanns constant = 8.6210
-5
eV/K)

Solution:
(a)
( )( )
( )
23 6 3
0 Cu
28 3
6.02 10 atoms /atomic mass 8.96 10 g /m
atomic mass of Cu 63.54g /atomic mass
8.49 10 atoms /m
N
N


= =
=

exp exp
v v v
v
n E E
C n NC
N kT kT
| | | |
= =
| |
\ . \ .


( )
( )
( )
28 3
5
24 3
1eV
8.49 10 atoms /m exp
8.62 10 eV/K 850K 273K
2.77 10 vacancies /m
v
n

(
(
=
( +

=


(b) vacancy fraction at 1073K is,

( )
( )
5
5
1eV
exp exp
8.62 10 eV/K 800K 273K
2.02 10 vacancies /atom
v v
n E
N kT

(
| |
(
= =
|
( \ . +

=



6. Write the equation for Ficks first law of diffusion, and define each term in SI units.

Solution:

2
2 3
atoms m atoms 1
or in SI unit form
s m m s m
dC
J D
dx

| |
| |
= =
` ` | |
) \ .
\ .
)

where J = flux or net flow of atoms; D = proportionality constant called the diffusitivity
(atomic conductivity) or diffusion coefficient;
dC
dx
= concentration gradient.






4

7. Consider the gas carburizing of a gear of 1018 steel (0.18wt%) at 927
o
C (1700
o
C). Calculate
the time necessary to increase the carbon content to 0.35wt% at 0.40 mm below the surface
of the gear. Assume the carbon content at the surface to be 1.15wt% and that the nominal
carbon content of the steel gear before carburizing is 0.18wt%.
D (C in iron) at 927
o
C = 1.2810
-11
m
2
/s.








Solution:
( )
( )
3
11 2
0
1.15 0.35 0.4 10 m
1.15 0.18 2
2 1.28 10 m /s
S X
S
C C x
erf erf
C C Dt
t

| |
| |
|
= =
|
|

\ .
|
\ .

55.9017
0.8247 erf
t
| |
=
|
\ .

1 0.8427 0.8247
1 0.95 0.8427 0.8209
0.9587
z
z

=

=


55.9017
0.9587
3400s 56.67mins
t
t
=
= =



8. The diffusivity of copper atoms in the aluminium lattice is 7.5010
-13
m
2
/s at 600
o
C and
2.5010
-15
m
2
/s at 400
o
C. Calculate the activation energy for this case in this temperature
range. Given R = 8.314 J/molK.

Solution:
1
0
2 1 2
1 1
exp exp
D Q Q
D D
RT D R T T
(
| |
| |
= =
( | |
\ .
( \ .


( ) ( )
13 2
15 2
7.5 10 m /s 1 1
exp
8.314J/molK 600K 273K 400K 273K 2.5 10 m /s
Q

(
| |

= ( |
|
+ +
(
\ .


139.3kJ/mol Q=
z erf(z)
0.95 0.8209
z 0.8247
1 0.8427