Introduction to Thermodynamics in Materials Science

Introduction to Thermodynamics in Materials Science#

This section introduces fundamental thermodynamic concepts essential for materials science and their application in materials discovery.

Learning Objectives#

After completing this section, you will be able to:

  1. Understand basic thermodynamic principles in materials science

  2. Apply thermodynamic concepts to predict material stability

  3. Use computational tools to calculate thermodynamic properties

  4. Interpret phase diagrams and stability plots

Topics Covered#

  1. Fundamental Thermodynamic Concepts

    • Gibbs Free Energy

    • Enthalpy and Entropy

    • Chemical Potential

  2. Phase Stability

    • Phase Diagrams

    • Stability Criteria

    • Metastability

  3. Computational Methods

    • Energy Calculations

    • Temperature Effects

    • Pressure Effects