CHAPTER 5

DIFFUSION
PROBLEM SOLUTIONS

5.8 A sheet of BCC iron 1 mm thick was exposed to a carburizing gas atmosphere on one side and a
decarburizing atmosphere on the other side at 725 C. After having reached steady state, the iron was quickly
cooled to room temperature. The carbon concentrations at the two surfaces of the sheet were determined to be
0.012 and 0.0075 wt%. Compute the diffusion coefficient if the diffusion flux is 1.4 10-8 kg/m2-s. Hint: Use
Equation 4.9 to convert the concentrations from weight percent to kilograms of carbon per cubic meter of iron.
Solution
Let us first convert the carbon concentrations from weight percent to kilograms carbon per meter cubed
using Equation 4.9a. For 0.012 wt% C

"
CC
=
CC

CC

0.944 kg C/m 3
Similarly, for 0.0075 wt% C

0
.
0
0
7
5
"
CC
=
0
.
0
0
7
5
9
+
3
2
.
2
5
g
/
c
m
7
.
8

= 0.590 kg C/m 3
Now, using a rearranged form of Equation 5.3
x x
B
D = J A

C A C B

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Note: xA xB is just depth or thickness of material exposure.

= 3.95 10-11 m2/s
5.11 Determine the carburizing time necessary to achieve a carbon concentration of 0.45 wt% at a
position 2 mm into an ironcarbon alloy that initially contains 0.20 wt% C. The surface concentration is to be
maintained at 1.30 wt% C, and the treatment is to be conducted at 1000 C. Use the diffusion data for -Fe in
Table 5.2.
Solution
See notes, specifically the solutions for the non-steady state diffusion problems.

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5.16 Cite the values of the diffusion coefficients for the interdiffusion of carbon in both -iron (BCC)
and -iron (FCC) at 900C. Which is larger? Explain why this is the case.
Solution
We are asked to compute the diffusion coefficients of C in both and iron at 900C. Using the data in
Table 5.2 and Equation 5.8, we can solve.
There is slightly more interstitial void space in the BCC Fe (due to lower APF), and, therefore, the
motion of the interstitial carbon atoms occurs more easily.

5.25 The steady-state diffusion flux through a metal plate is 5.4 10-10 kg/m2-s at a temperature of 727 C (1000
K) and when the concentration gradient is -350 kg/m 4. Calculate the diffusion flux at 1027 C (1300 K) for the
same concentration gradient and assuming an activation energy for diffusion of 125,000 J/mol.
Solution
In order to solve this problem, we must first compute the value of D0 from the data given at 727C (1000
K); this requires the combining of both Equations 5.3 and 5.8 as

J = D

C
=
D0
exp
d

x
RT

Solving for D0 from the above expression gives

D0 = 5.26 10-6 m2/s
The value of the diffusion flux at 1300 K may be computed using these same two equations as follows:

C Qd
J =
D0
exp

x RT

= 1.74 10-8 kg/m2-s

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CHAPTER 6
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF METALS
PROBLEM SOLUTIONS

6.19 Consider a cylindrical specimen of some hypothetical metal alloy that has a diameter of 8.0 mm
(0.31 in.). A tensile force of 1000 N (225 lb f) produces an elastic reduction in diameter of 2.8 10-4 mm (1.10
10-5 in.). Compute the modulus of elasticity for this alloy, given that Poisson's ratio is 0.30.
Solution
This problem asks that we calculate the modulus of elasticity of a metal that is stressed in tension.
Combining Equations 6.5 and 6.1 leads to

E =

= 4 F
z
z
d 02

From the definition of Poisson's ratio, (Equation 6.8) and realizing that for the transverse strain, x=

d
d0

Therefore, substitution of this expression for z into the above equation yields

= 170.5 GPa

(24.7
10 6 psi)

6.57 Determine working stresses for the two alloys that have the stressstrain behaviors shown in
Figures 6.12 and 6.21.
Solution
The working stresses for the two alloys the stress-strain behaviors of which are shown in Figures 6.12 and
6.21 are calculated by dividing the yield strength by a factor of safety, which we will take to be 2.

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CHAPTER 7
DISLOCATIONS AND STRENGTHENING MECHANISMS
PROBLEM SOLUTIONS

7.24 The lower yield point for an iron that has an average grain diameter of 5 10-2 mm is 135 MPa (19,500
psi). At a grain diameter of 8 10-3 mm, the yield point increases to 260 MPa (37,500 psi). At what grain
diameter will the lower yield point be 205 MPa (30,000 psi)?
Solution
Solve for 0 and ky, and finally determine the value of d when y = 205 MPa.
y

d (mm)

d-1/2 (mm)-1/2

135 MPa

5 10-2

4.47

260 MPa

8 10-3

11.18

The two equations thus become

1
3
5
M
P
a
=

+
(
4
.
4
7
)
ky
0

2
6
0
M
P
a
=

+
(
1
1
.
1
8
)
ky
0

And we solve for d:

d = 1.48 10-2 mm.

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