MME 301
Thermodynamics of Materials
2
Course Description
At the end of this course, the students should be able to:
1. explain the laws of thermodynamics and their applications to equilibrium and the
properties of materials;
2. discuss how thermodynamics affects materials microstructure, defect concentration,
atomic ordering etc;
3. analyse equilibrium conditions between solid-liquid, gas-liquid and gas-solid phases in
one-component systems;
4. calculate equilibrium conditions between solid-liquid, gas-condensed phases via the
Clapeyron equation;
5. explain how the properties of materials are affected by thermo processes;
6. discuss how to develop graphical constructions that are essential for the interpretation of
phase diagrams;
7. explain how to apply thermodynamic data to predict stable phases in high temperature
systems;
8. explain the construction and use of partial pressure diagram, Eh-pH diagrams, T-C
diagrams in metallurgical systems; and
9. discuss slag formation equation and desulphurization process metallurgical system.
Course Outline
Thermochemistry applied to typical metallurgical reactions, graphical representations of
equilibria, binary and ternary phase diagrams, heterogeneous equilibrium, behaviour of
solutions, standard states, and electrochemical thermodynamics. Application of
thermodynamic data to predict stable phases in aqueous and high-temperature systems.
Construction and use of partial pressure diagrams, Eh-pH diagrams, temperature-composition
diagrams in related mineral and metallurgical systems. Activities and equilibria in slag-metal
and gas-metal systems.