CHAPTER 5 DIFFUSION
Diffusion - The phenomenon of material transport by atomic motion. The
phenomenon of diffusion may be demonstrated with the use of a diffusion
couple, which is found by joining bars of two different metals together so that
there is intimate contact the two faces.
Inter diffusion - The process by which atoms of one metal diffuse into another
is termed inter diffusion, or impurity diffusion.
Impurity diffusion - Inter diffusion may be discerned from a macroscopic
perspective by changes in concentration that occur over time.
Self –diffusion – Diffusion also occurs for pure metals, but all atoms
exchanging positions are of the same type; this is termed self-diffusion.
-is not normally subject to observation by nothing compositional changes.
DIFFUSION MECHANISM
-From an atomic perspective, diffusion is just the stepwise migration of
atoms from lattice site to lattice site.
Vacancy Diffusion - One mechanism involves the interchange of an atom from
a lattice position to an adjacent vacant lattice site or vacancy, as represented
schematically. This mechanism is aptly termed vacancy diffusion.
Interstitial Diffusion – The second type of diffusion involves atoms that
migrate from an interstitial position to a neighboring one that is empty. This
mechanism is found for inter diffusion of impurities such as hydrogen, carbon,
nitrogen, and oxygen, which have atoms that are small enough to fit into the
interstitial position.
FICK’S FIRST LAW
Diffusion flux – Diffusion is a time-dependent process-that is, in a macroscopic
sense, the quantity of an element that is transported within another is a
function of time. Often it is necessary to know how fast diffusion occurs, or the
rate of mass transfer.
Fick’s first law – may be applied to the diffusion of atoms of a gas through a
thin metal plate for which the concentrations (or pressure) of the diffusing
species on both surfaces of the late are held constant.
Diffusion coefficient – The constant of proportionality D is called the diffusion
coefficient, which is expressed in square meters per second.
Steady-state diffusion – This diffusion process eventually reaches a state
wherein the diffusion flux does not change with time-that is, the mass of
diffusing species entering the plate on the high-pressure side is equal to the
mass exiting from the low-pressure surface-such that there is no net
accumulation of diffusing species in the plate.
Concentration profile – When concentration C is plotted versus position (or
distance) within the solid x, the resulting curve is termed the concentration
profile.
Concentration gradient – is the slope at a particular point on this curve.
Driving force – Sometimes the term driving force is used in the context of what
compels a reaction to occur.
FICK’S SECND LAW-NONSTEADY-STATE DIFFUSION
Fick’s second law – The partial differential equation known as Fick’s second
law, is used. If the diffusion coefficient is independent of composition (which
should be verified for each particular diffusion situation).
Carburizing - One way this may be accomplished is by increasing the surface
concentration of carbon in a process termed carburizing.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE DIFFUSION
Diffusing Species
- The magnitude of the diffusion coefficient D is indicative of the rate at
which atoms diffuse. The diffusing species and the host material influence
the diffusion coefficient.
Temperature
- Temperature has a profound influence on the coefficients and diffusion
rates.
Activation energy
- The activation energy may be thought of as that energy required to
produce the diffusive motion of one mole of atoms.
DIFFUSION IN SEMICONDUCTING MATERIALS
-One technology that applies solid-state diffusion is the fabrication of
semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) (Section 18.15). Each integrated circuit
chip is a thin square wafer having dimensions on the order of 6 mm x 6 mm x
0.4 mm; furthermore; millions if interconnected electronic devices and circuits
are embedded in one chip faces.
OTHER DIFFUSION PATHS -Atomic migration may also occur along
dislocations, grain boundaries, and external surfaces. These are sometimes
called short-circuit diffusion paths inasmuch as rates are much faster that for
bulk diffusion.
Equation
EQUATION SOLVING FOR
Diffusion flux
Fick’s first law
Fick’s second law
Solution to Fick’s second law-for constant surface
composition
Temperature dependence of diffusion coefficient
List of Symbols
Meaning
Symbol
A Cross-sectional area perpendicular to direction of diffusion.
C Concentration of diffusing species
Initial concentration of diffusing species prior to the onset of the diffusion process.
Surface concentration of diffusing species.
Concentration at position x after diffusion time t
D Diffusion coefficient
Temperature-independent constant
M Mass of material diffusing
Activation energy for diffusion
R Gas constant (8.31 j/mol-K)
t Elapsed diffusion time
x Position coordinate (or distance) measured in the direction of diffusion, normally
from a solid surface.
