Comparison of formulas derived from Fourier series solution of diffusion equation

Abstract

The first Fourier series solution satisfying the boundary condition of zero concentration at the diffusion distance was derived by assuming that the solution consists of a steady-state solution and a transient solution. The first total amount which has passed through the first layer surface was derived from the first Fourier series solution. When the diffusion distance is large, the exponential term in the first total amount cannot be zero. For the sublimation diffusion of disperse dye in paste into polyethylene terephthalate film using the film-roll method, the plot of the first total amount against time was in good agreement with the quadratic regression curve. The second Fourier series solution satisfying the boundary condition of constant concentration at the diffusion distance was derived by assuming that the diffusion distance is the thickness of the first layer. The second total amount which has passed through the second layer surface was derived from the second Fourier series solution and is a linear function of time because the exponential term is zero due to the very small diffusion distance, the thickness of the first layer. The plot of the second total amount against time was in good agreement with the linear regression line. The time-lag formula was derived from the second total amount. The diffusion coefficients determined from the second total amount are much larger than those of the other three types. All four types showed excellent linearity in Arrhenius plot, but the activation energy for the time-lag formula is somewhat greater than the rest.