Zn Diffusion in Binary Base of Light Mg-Al Alloys

Heterodiffusion of 65Zn in Mg, Mg – x Al (x = 1.77, 3.9 and 9 wt.% Al) and in the commercial AZ91 alloy was studied in the temperature interval 498 – 848 K by serial sectioning and residual activity methods. The concentration and temperature dependence of Zn bulk diffusion coefficient D is described by the relation D = exp (0.1 × cAl – 9.16) × exp (-125.8 kJ mol-1/RT) m2 s-1 (cAl – concentration of Al in wt.%). Zn grain boundary diffusivity P = s δ Db (s – segregation factor, δ - grain boundary width and Db – diffusion coefficient in grain boundary) was also determined and it was found that it obeys the Arrhenius law P = 7.2 × 10-15 × exp (-46 kJ mol-1/RT) m3 s-1.