Atomic Diffusion in Metals and Alloys

Before starting this module, it is assumed that the student is familiar with the crystalline nature of metals and alloys, and understands the terms interstitial, vacancy, substitutional solid solution, binary alloy. References are made to the equilibrium vacancy concentration and it is preferable that this concept had been encountered, although backup is available both through the glossary and via hyperlinks to other modules. Solutions to Fick's laws are stated where applicable, but the mathematical derivations (most of which require a knowledge of partial differential equations) are not given. It is also recommended that the user has at least a basic understanding of metallurgical thermodynamics, and that the Gibbs’ free energy relationship ∆G=∆H-T∆S is known.