Self Diffusion And Impurity Diffusion In Pure Metals

Diffusion in metals is an important phenomenon, which has many applications, for example in all kinds of steel and aluminum production, and in alloy formation (technical applications e.g. in superconductivity and semiconductor science). In this book the data on diffusion in metals are shown, both in graphs and in equations. Reliable data on diffusion in metals are required by researchers who try to make sense of results from all kinds of metallurgical experiments, and they are equally needed by theorists and computer modelers. The previous compilation dates from 1990, and measurements relying on the electron microprobe and the recent Rutherford backscattering technique were hardly taken into account there. This reference book, containing all results on self-diffusion and impurity diffusion in pure metals with an indication of their reliability, will be useful to everyone in this field for the theory, fundamental research and industrial applications covered. • Up-to-date and complete (including EPMA and RBS investigations) • Indication of reliability of the measurements • Reassessment of many early results • Data can easily be extracted from Tables and Graphs

The systematic investigation of self-diffusion and impurity diffusion in metals began as a result of the availability of a wide variety of artificial radio- isotopes following the Second World War. During the following years, rapid advances in the theory of solid-state diffusion and the ever-increasing number of experimental data were comprehensively described in any number of textbooks and review papers. But impurity diffusion in metals was more or less superficially treated in the textbooks, and some of the review papers, with the result that - even up to now - a comprehensive review of the correct interpretation of impurity diffusion in metals has been lacking.

Atomic diffusion in metals was first discovered some sixty-five years ago, and since then a considerable wealth of data has ac cumulated on diffusion in various systems. However, work prior to about the year 1940 is now mainly of historical interest, since ex periments were often carried out under experimental conditions and with methods of analysis leading to uncertainties in inter preting the measured diffusion coefficients. Data on diffusion rates are of importance in processes which are controlled by rates of atomic migration such as growth of phases and homogenization of alloys. In addition diffusion plays an important part in theories of such phenomena as oxidation, plastic deformation, sintering, and creep. A tremendous advance in diffusion studies was made possible by the availability of radioactive isotopes of sufficiently high spe cific activity after the second world war. Measurements of self diffusion rates then became possible using radioactive isotopes having the same chemical properties as the solvent material, and it also became possible to study tracer impurity diffusion when the concentration of the impurity is so small as not to alter the chemi cal homogeneity of the system. In the last ten to fifteen years the purity of materials used in diffusion studies has increased con siderably and the methods of analysis have become more stand ardized.