Diffusion
Abretil, Katrina Faith C.
Kalaw, John Carlos S.
Laude, Jay S.
GROUP 6
Diffusion
Diffusion is the process of particle (atoms, molecules, or ions)
movement from regions of high concentration to regions of
low concentration. In material science, it refers to the
movement of atoms within a solid, liquid, or gas due to the
random thermal motion of particles.
Importance of Diffusion: Diffusion is a fundamental
phenomenon in material science that governs various
material properties and processes. It influences the mixing of
substances, the formation of alloys, the growth of crystals,
and the overall behavior of materials.
Diffusion
Diffusion rate is related
to temperature,
pressure, state of
matter, size of
concentration gradient
and surface area of
membrane
Although we generally consider diffusion within the
entire volume of a material, there are some cases
in which the atomic transport occurs primarily
along grain boundaries (by grain boundary
diffusion) or along the surface of the material (by
surface diffusion)
Grain Boundary Diffusion
In some materials, such as polycrystalline ones, diffusion
mainly occurs along grain boundaries.
Surface Boundary Diffusion
Surface diffusion, on the other hand, is characterized by
atoms or molecules moving predominantly along the
material's surface.
Thermally Activated Process
Thermally activated processes involve the movement
of atoms or molecules within a material, and this
movement is influenced by temperature.
Factors Influencing Thermally
Activated Processes
• Temperature
• Temperature is a critical factor influencing thermally activated
processes.
• As temperature increases, atoms and molecules within a material
gain kinetic energy.
• Higher kinetic energy leads to more frequent and energetic
collisions among particles.
• These collisions result in increased atomic mobility, which facilitates
diffusion.
• In summary, elevated temperatures provide the energy needed for
atoms or molecules to overcome potential energy barriers and
Temperature
• Concentration Gradient:
• Concentration gradient is another essential factor
affecting thermally activated processes.
• It represents the difference in concentration of atoms
or molecules between two regions within the material.
• Diffusion occurs from regions of higher concentration
to regions of lower concentration.
• A steeper concentration gradient results in a more
significant driving force for diffusion.
• Concentration gradients are essential in processes like
the diffusion of dopants in semiconductors and the
flow of particles in solutions.
Concentration Gradient:
Arrhenius Equation
Where:
C is a preexponential constant
Q is the activation energy
R is the universal gas constant
T is the absolute temperature.
The ratio of diffusion rates (D1/D2)
between the two samples is
approximately 0.928. This means that at
the higher temperature (600°C), the
diffusion rate is about 92.8% of the
diffusion rate at the lower temperature
(300°C).
Thermal Production of Point Defects
Definition:
• is a process in which elevated temperatures provide
suffi cient energy for atoms or molecules to create
point defects within a crystalline material.
Explanation:
• At higher temperatures, the atoms or molecules within
a material gain thermal energy.
• This energy enables them to overcome energy barriers
and displace from their regular lattice positions.
• The result is the creation of point defects, including
vacancies, interstitials, and even substitutional defects
Formation of Point Defects:
Vacancies:
At elevated temperatures, some lattice sites may become vacant
as atoms move more freely.
These vacant sites are known as vacancies.
Interstitials:
Interstitials are extra atoms that insert themselves into interstitial
positions in the crystal lattice.
Elevated temperatures provide the energy for interstitial atoms to
squeeze into these tiny spaces.
Substitutional Defects:
In some cases, atoms from the lattice may be replaced by different
atoms.
This substitutional defect formation is facilitated by high
Role in Material Science:
Understanding the thermal production of point
defects is crucial in materials science and
engineering.
It enables the controlled modification of material
properties, such as electrical conductivity,
mechanical strength, and more.
