Question

Imagine we have a steel rod with a 1.1% carbon content. This rod undergoes decarburation during annealing in air at 950°C. In this situation, in the formula $\frac{C - C_s}{C_0 - C_s} = \text{erf} \left(\frac{x}{2\sqrt{Dt}}\right)$ should we take the initial carbon concentration ($C_0$) as 0, or the surface carbon concentration ($C_s$) as 0?

          Imagine we have a steel rod with a 1.1% carbon content. This rod undergoes
decarburation during annealing in air at 950°C. In this situation, in the formula
$\frac{C - C_s}{C_0 - C_s} = \text{erf} \left(\frac{x}{2\sqrt{Dt}}\right)$
should we take the initial carbon concentration ($C_0$) as 0, or the surface carbon
concentration ($C_s$) as 0?

Imagine we have a steel rod with a 1.1% carbon content. This rod undergoes
decarburation during annealing in air at 950°C. In this situation, in the formula
(C - Cs)/(C0 - Cs) = erf((x)/(2√(Dt)))
should we take the initial carbon concentration (C0) as 0, or the surface carbon
concentration (Cs) as 0?

Added by Manuel C.

Chemistry: Structure and Properties

Nivaldo Tro 2nd Edition

Instant Answer

Solved by Expert Nicholas Mogoi

12/19/2023

Step 1

In this case, the material is steel and the diffusing species is carbon. The formula relates the concentration of carbon at a distance x from the surface of the steel rod to the initial carbon concentration (C0), the surface carbon concentration (Cs), the Show more…

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Imagine we have a steel rod with a 1.1% carbon content. This rod undergoes decarburization during annealing in air at 950°C. In this situation, in the formula $$\frac{C-C_s}{C_0-C_s} = erf(\frac{x}{2\sqrt{Dt}})$$ should we take the initial carbon concentration (CO) as 0, or the surface carbon concentration (Cs) as 0?