3.020
Thermodynamics of Materials
Introduces the competition between energetics and disorder that underpins materials thermodynamics. Presents classical thermodynamic concepts in the context of phase equilibria, including phase transformations, phase diagrams, and chemical reactions. Includes computerized thermodynamics and an introduction to statistical thermodynamics. Includes experimental and computational laboratories. Covers methodology of technical communication with the goal of presenting technical methods in broader contexts and for broad audiences.
Spring 2021
Topics
- Phase diagrams for materials selection: Fe-C: Understanding phase diagrams and their role in materials selection and design
- Case studies: Specific heats and phase transformations
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- Case studies: Saturation vapor pressure
- Case study in reacting gas mixtures; introducing the Nernst equation
- CALPHAD: Case studies and Prof. Olson guest lecture
- Intermediate phases and reactions
- Case study: Reacting, multi-component, multi-phase systems
Readings
- Denbigh, Kenneth. Chapter 4 in The Principles of Chemical Equilibrium , 4th ed. Cambridge University Press, 1981. ISBN: 9780521281508.
- Callister, William D. “Phase Diagrams.” Chapter 9 in Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction , 8th ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2018. ISBN: 9780470419977.
- Chandler, David. “Statistical Mechanics.” Chapter 3 in Introduction to Modern Statistical Mechanics, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 1987. ISBN: 9780195042771.
- Clerc, Daryl G., and David A. Cleary. “Spinodal Decomposition as an Interesting Example of the Application of Several Thermodynamic Principles.” Journal of Chemical Education 72, no. 2 (1995): 112–115.
- Ferrie, Chris. Statistical Physics for Babies. Sourcebooks, 2018. ISBN: 9781492670308.
- Novel for the course this year, two class sessions were devoted to discussing the social and personal aspects of working in the field of materials science. The intention was to have students explore their individual purpose and motivation for pursuing careers in science and engineering, and to have them think about the impact of their work on the wider world.
- There is one required textbook:
- Robert DeHoff, Thermodynamics in Materials Science , 2nd edition, CRC Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780849340659.
- Chapter 4: “Equilibria of Reactions Involving Gases.” Kenneth Denbigh, The Principles of Chemical Equilibrium , 4th edition, Cambridge, 1981. ISBN: 9780521281508.
- Chapter 9: “Phase Diagrams.” William D. Callister, Jr., and David G. Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering , 8th edition, Wiley, 2009. ISBN: 9780470419977.
- Chapter 3: “Statistical Mechanics.” David Chandler, Introduction to Modern Statistical Mechanics , Oxford, 1987. ISBN: 9780195042771.
Prerequisites & course information
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR) ; Coreq: 18.03 , 18.032 , or 18.06 U (Spring) 4-3-5 units. REST
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Spring 2021
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OCW schedule ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.