MSE 303
Materials Thermodynamics
2
Course Description
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. explain the difference between chemical and materials thermodynamics;
2. develop skills to solve thermodynamics problems in material processing;
3. show expertise in interpreting Ellingham diagram for heat treatment; and
4. apply the Thermo-Calc software in thermodynamics analyses
Course Outline
Chemical reaction equilibria: Review of thermodynamics function. Fugacity and Activity. Free
Energy. Partial and integral molar thermodynamics functions. Gibbs-Duhem equations.
Ellingham's diagrams for metal-oxide, metal-chloride and metal-sulphide systems. Application
of Ellingham diagrams in metal extraction and heat treatment. Assessment of the application
of carbon, silicon, hydrogen and other reductants in metallic production. Theory of solutions:
ideal, actual and dilute solutions. Deviations from ideal behaviour. Raoult's and Henry's laws.
Activity in multi-component system. Phase equilibria: Equilibria of two-component systems.
Free energy composition diagrams; Construction of phase diagrams. Reactions between
different phases i.e., slag/metal or slag/metal/gas. Pre-requisite: GET 206.