EdX

Microstructural Evolution of Materials Part 2: Defects and Diffusion (edX)

Offered by MIT, MITx,
Microstructural Evolution of Materials Part 2: Defects and Diffusion (edX)

Discover the principles of point defect evolution that explain materials science phenomena. This series introduces various kinetic phenomena in various classes of materials. The course explains how materials develop different microstructure based on different processing techniques, and it relates these microstructures to the properties of the material.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see EdX's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

This module is Part 2 of a four-part series on the Microstructural Evolution in Materials. Taken together, these four modules provide similar content to the MIT Course 3.022: Microstructural Evolution of Materials.
Microstructural Evolution of Materials is intended for engineering and science students and professionals with an interest in materials statistics, kinetics, and microstructural transformations.
Part 1 of the course will introduce important concepts in statistical mechanics that are especially relevant to materials scientists. Topics include solid solutions, the canonical ensemble and heat capacity.
Part 2 of the course focuses on point defect evolution, including diffusion, substitutional diffusion, ionic defects, and ionic conductivity.
Part 3 of the course discusses surfaces and surface-driven reactions. Topics include surface energy, faceted and non-faceted growth, and growth and ripening.
Part 4 of the course focuses on phase transformations, including nucleation and growth, precipitate growth, interface stability, and glass transition.

What you'll learn
At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand the microscopic mechanisms that govern diffusion
  • Explain how ion exchange can be used to chemically strengthen glass
  • Predict the charge carrier concentration in various charge compensation regimes using the Brouwer approximation

Prerequisites
Diffusion

  • Fick’s First Law of Diffusion
  • The Diffusion Coefficient
  • Fick’s Second Law of Diffusion
  • Analytic Solutions to Fick’s Second Law

Diffusion Examples

  • Example #1: Meat Processing
  • Example #2: Doping of Semiconductors
  • Example #3: Chemical Strengthening of Glass

Self-Diffusion

  • Kinetics of Substitutional Self-Diffusion
  • Example: Substitutional Self-Diffusion in Gold

Substitutional Diffusion

  • Vacancy Diffusion
  • Vacancy Sources and Sinks
  • Kirkendall Effect
  • Motion of Crystal Planes
  • Interdiffusion in Ionic Solids

Ionic Defects & Defect Reactions

  • Types of Point Defects
  • Kröger-Vink Notation
  • Defect Reactions
  • Equilibrium Constant for Defect Reaction
  • Charge Compensation in Ionic Solids
  • Charge Compensation in Non-Stoichiometric Solids

The Brouwer Approximation

  • Introduction to the Brouwer Approximation
  • Brouwer Diagrams
  • F-Centers

Ionic Conductivity

  • An Introduction to Ionic Conductivity
  • Applications of Ionic Conductors
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching (edX) EdX
CornellX,Cornell University

An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching (edX)

Learn how to implement evidence-based teaching strategies in your university classroom as well as effective methods for assessing teaching and learning. This course is designed to provide future STEM faculty, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows with an introduction to effective teaching strategies and the research that supports them.

Jun 17th 2024
5-12 Weeks
Microstructural Evolution of Materials Part 3: Surfaces & Surface-Driven Reactions (edX) EdX
MIT,MITx

Microstructural Evolution of Materials Part 3: Surfaces & Surface-Driven Reactions (edX)

Discover the principles of Surfaces & Surface-Driven Reactions that explain materials science phenomena. This module is Part 3 of a four-part series on the Microstructural Evolution in Materials. Taken together, these four modules provide similar content to the MIT Course 3.022: Microstructural Evolution of Materials.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Material Behavior (Coursera) Coursera
Georgia Institute of Technology

Material Behavior (Coursera)

Have you ever wondered why ceramics are hard and brittle while metals tend to be ductile? Why some materials conduct heat or electricity while others are insulators? Why adding just a small amount of carbon to iron results in an alloy that is so much stronger than the base metal? In this course, you will learn how a material’s properties are determined by the microstructure of the material, which is in turn determined by composition and the processing that the material has undergone.

Jun 15th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Additive Technologies in Metallurgy & Mechanical Engineering (Coursera) Coursera
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University

Additive Technologies in Metallurgy & Mechanical Engineering (Coursera)

Every teenager is ready to answer the question - what is 3d printer? But not every experienced engineer can imagine where and how additive technologies can be applied in mechanical engineering and especially in metallurgy. This is the subject of our online course. The use of additive technologies is one of the clearest examples of how new developments and equipment can significantly improve traditional manufacturing.

Jul 18th 2022
5-12 Weeks
Introduction to Thermodynamics (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Hull

Introduction to Thermodynamics (FutureLearn)

Discover the laws of thermodynamics as you learn how to calculate chemical properties and predict chemical reactions. Get an introduction to thermodynamic properties and systems. Curious about thermodynamics or thinking about studying it at university? This short course from the University of Hull offers a short introduction to the fundamentals of thermodynamics – the branch of physics that deals with heat and its relation to energy.

Available now
3 Weeks
Diffusion and Mass Transfer (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Taipei Medical University

Diffusion and Mass Transfer (FutureLearn)

Master a core field of chemical engineering by learning about transport phenomena like diffusion, convection, and mass transfer. This six-week course from Taipei Medical University (TMU) provides a comprehensive overview of transport phenomena, with a particular focus on diffusion, mass transfer, and convection. Once you’ve understood the fundamentals of all three processes, you’ll learn how to analyse them using coefficient models.

Jun 1st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Quantum Detectors (edX) EdX
Purdue University,PurdueX

Quantum Detectors (edX)

Learn about quantum sensors and devices that extract maximal information from the world around us. Classical detectors and sensors are ubiquitous around us from heat sensors in cars to light detectors in a camera cell phone. Leveraging advances in the theory of noise and measurement, an important paradigm of quantum metrology has emerged. Here, ultra-precision measurement devices collect maximal information from the world around us at the quantum limit.

Feb 12th 2024
5-12 Weeks
Supply Chain Fundamentals (edX) EdX
MIT,MITx

Supply Chain Fundamentals (edX)

Learn fundamental concepts for logistics and supply chain management from both analytical and practical perspectives – part of the MITx MicroMasters Credential in Supply Chain Management. The CTL.SC1x Supply Chain Fundamentals course provides the foundational skills for supply chain management and logistics. You will learn how to develop and apply analytic tools, approaches, and techniques used in the design and operation of logistics systems and integrated supply chains.

Apr 3rd 2024
13-24 Weeks
Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (chemistry) (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (chemistry) (edX)

Top chefs and Harvard researchers explore how everyday cooking and haute cuisine can illuminate basic principles in chemistry, physics, and engineering. Learn about food molecules and how chemical reactions can affect food texture and flavor. During each module of this course, chefs reveal the secrets behind some of their most famous culinary creations — often right in their own restaurants. Inspired by such cooking mastery, the Harvard team will then explain the science behind the recipe.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Applied Quantum Computing III: Algorithm and Software (edX) EdX
Purdue University,PurdueX

Applied Quantum Computing III: Algorithm and Software (edX)

Learn domain-specific quantum algorithms and how to run them on present-day quantum hardware. This course is part III of the series of Quantum computing courses, which covers aspects from fundamentals to present-day hardware platforms to quantum software and programming. The goal of part III is to discuss some of the key domain-specific algorithms that are developed by exploiting the fundamental quantum phenomena (e.g. entanglement)and computing models discussed in part I.

Mar 25th 2024
5-12 Weeks