electiveHQ

The module covers the thermodynamic background to phase diagrams, which are of key importance in understanding the industrial processing of materials. In addition, the kinetics of phase transformations - which control the transformation rate (e.g. in alloy solidification) - are investigated and quantified. The topics involved are listed below. Thermodynamic definitions. Equilibrium state of a material. First law of thermodynamics. Standard thermodynamic properties. Second law of thermodynamics. Metallurgical thermodynamics. Single component systems. Binary solutions; statistical thermodynamics and configurational entropy. Equilibrium in heterogeneous systems. Binary phase diagrams; eutectic, peritectic, eutectoid, peritectoid. Introduction to ternary phase diagrams. Examples of phase transformations in materials; experimental studies. Computer-aided calculation of phase diagrams. Kinetics of nucleation and growth. Development of microstructure.