Papers by Keyword: Thermal Vacancies

Abstract: In this Chapter, we review knowledge about diffusion in quasi-crystalline alloys (quasicrystals). In Section 1 we first remind the reader of some major aspects of the quasi-crystalline state and in Section 2 we introduce phase diagrams with quasi-crystalline phases, for which detailed diffusion studies are available. We mention in Section 3 the more common experimental methods for diffusion studies. The diffusive motion of atoms in quasi-crystalline alloys can be studied by the same techniques used for crystalline metallic alloys and intermetallics – measurements of radiotracer diffusion and diffusion of stable isotopes and solute atoms by SIMS profiling. The best-studied quasi-crystalline alloys are icosahedral AlPdMn, icosahedral ZnMgRE (RE = rare earth metal), and decagonal AlNiCo. The major diffusion results for these quasicrystals are reviewed in Sections 4, 5, and 6. Section 7 is devoted to the pressure dependence of diffusion in quasicrystals and to a comparison of the activation volumes with those of crystalline metals. Positron annihilation studies are also mentioned, which together with activation volumes for diffusion strongly favour a vacancy mechanism in quasicrystals. The major results and conclusions are summarized in Section 8.

Abstract: Starting from fundamental aspects of thermal vacancies and solid-state self-and solute diffusion, this paper reviews procedures for tracer-and interdiffusion studies and of the major techniques for vacancy studies by dilatometry and positron annihilation in metals. Equilibrium vacancy and diffusion studies performed on pure iron and aluminium are mentioned at first. We also comment some peculiarities of solute diffusion in aluminium. Positron annihilation and differential dilatometry studies for Fe-Al alloys with various compositions are summarized and new experimental studies by the authors are reported for vacancy migration in Fe₆₁Al₃₉. All these studies indicate a relatively high fraction of thermal vacancies with relatively low mobility in this type of iron-aluminides as compared to pure metals. Tracer diffusion of iron and of several substitutional solutes such as Co, Ni, Cr, Mn, Zn, and In in Fe-Al from the Münster laboratory are summarized. The diffusion studies of Fe-Al cover various alloy composition between Fe₃Al and FeAl and several structures such as A2, B2 and D0₃. Interdiffusion coefficients obtained from diffusion couples between Fe-Al alloys are discussed together with Fe tracer diffusion data. The Darken-Manning equation is used to deduce Al diffusivities therefrom. The latter are hardly accessible to radiotracer experiments due to a lack of a suitable Al tracer. Diffusion of Al is slightly faster than diffusion of Fe indicating diffusion mechanisms with coupled jumps of Fe and Al atoms.

Abstract: A description of positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) in solids is given in terms of a trapping model. Data are presented for a commercial AA1050 dilute alloy ingot, and fitted to a model allowing presentation in the form of Arrhenius plots. From whence the value of the activation enthalpy, , for thermal vacancies obtained by PAS for AlFeSi is found to be 0.860.18eV.

Abstract: In this study, the distribution of colloidal nano-gold particles on the nanoporous surfaces of FeAl single crystals was investigated. Colloidal nano-gold particles were dropped onto the nanoporous surface, and their distribution was observed by TEM. Some of nano-gold particles located at the edges of nanopores. A few additional attempts to improve the wettability of the surfaces were made using surface treatments. As a result, the frequency of nano-gold particles put into nanopores was achieved up to 98.3%.