MSE 6401: Thermodynamics of Materials
Fall, 2008, T, Th 12:00-1:30 PM, Rm. 299, Love Building
INSTRUCTORS:
Dr. Tom Sanders
Dr. Ken Sandhage
Office: Love Building, Room 268
Office: M Building, Room 3100L
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment. Instructor encourages use of e-mail.
E-mail: tom.sanders@mse.gatech.edu
E-mail: ken.sandhage@mse.gatech.edu
Objective:
To examine the principles of thermodynamics as applied to equilibria associated with
solutions, mixtures, chemical reactions, and itnerfaces in materials.
Textbook:
None (handouts provided)
References:
Primary:
“Chemical Thermodynamics of Materials,” C.H.P. Lupis, North Holland, 1983
“Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Thermodynamics,” F.W. Sears,
G.L. Salinger, Third Edition, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1975
“Alloy Phase Equilibria,” A.Prince, Elsevier Publishing Co., 1966
“Thermodynamics in Materials Science,” R.T.DeHoff, McGraw-Hill, 1993
Secondary: “Introduction to Metallurgical Thermodynamics,” D.R.Gaskell, McGraw-Hill, 1973
“Thermodynamics of Solids,” R.A. Swalin, Wiley & Sons, 1972
“The Principles of Chemical Equilibrium,” K.Denbigh, Cambridge University Press, 1971
Grading:
First Exam:
Second Exam:
Third Exam:
Total:
33.3%
33.3%
33.3%
100%
Homework: Homework exercises will be given to augment lecture notes. While homework will not be
graded, it is strongly recommended that students perform the exercises to better understand
the lecture material and as preparation for exams.
Exams:
Exams (1.5 hour) will be given in class at the scheduled time. Exceptions (only for very
good reasons) will require making prior arrangements with the instructors.
Class Outline:
1. Thermodynamic Stability of Open Systems (Chapters 2, 3 of Lupis)
2. Solution Thermodynamics (Chapters 4, 6, 7, 9 of Lupis)
a. Ideal solutions, regular solutions and non-ideal solutions
b. Activities and activity coefficients
c. Deviation from ideal behavior- Raoult’s and Henry’s Laws
d. Integrating solution parameters, the Gibbs-Duhem Equation
e. Relationship between the activity and phase equilibria in a two-component system
3. Chemical Reaction Equilibria (Chapter 5 of Lupis)
4. Auxiliary Functions- H(S,T), A(V,T), and G(P,T) Method of Legendre Transformations
5. One-component Phase Diagrams
a. Application of the Phase Rule
b. van der Waals Equation of State
c. Calculating one-component phase diagrams
d. First and second order phase transformations
6. Calculating simple, two-component phase diagrams using ideal/regular solution models-nearest
neighbor models
7. Calculating real systems using existing thermodynamic data/diagrams and higher order solution
models
8. Order-disorder systems
a. Second and first order phase transformations- the AB and A3B systems.
b. First and second neighbor models- continuous ordering (spinodal ordering) versus
decomposition
c. Calculating the AB ordering diagram
9. P-T-X in Binary Systems
10. Polymer Systems
a. Flory-Huggins theory
b. Gels
c. Liquid crystals
11. Colloid-Packing Diagrams
Helpful Tips for Good Performance:
1)
Ask questions! If you don’t understand something, the odds are that you are not alone. For most
of us (including me), concepts in thermodynamics are not always intuitive. Much of the
understanding in thermodynamics comes about by doggedly pursuing answers to questions.
2)
Keep up with the lectures. If you keep ahead of, or at least at pace with, the lectures, you can
ask questions as the material is covered. This is more efficient in the long run than waiting until
the last minute before a test to get questions answered.
3)
Do the homework in a timely fashion. I will provide solutions to the homework assignments.
You will learn far more by taking a stab at solving problems on your own before seeing the
solutions, than if you simply look at the solutions without attempting the problems first.
4)
Use all of the resources that you have available. If you don’t understand something covered in
lecture, try reading the suggested references. Talk to other students about your questions. I am
happy to help you outside of class (just stop by or call me and schedule and appointment).