It is proposed to deposit a 5 μm thick nickel coating uniformly on all surfaces of a ceramic strip measuring 15 cm x 5 cm x 2 cm by employing a vapor-phase deposition (evaporation-condensation) technique. The vapor pressure-temperature relationship for liquid Ni is of the following form:

ln p (atm) = -(51,590/T) – 2.01 ln T + 32.40.

The normal melting point and boiling point of nickel are 1453°C and 2730°C, respectively, and the density and atomic weights of Ni are 8.91 g. cm^-3 and 58.71 atomic mass units respectively. Calculate the energy in joules needed to evaporate the required quantity of nickel.