The kinetics of short-range ordering in the 14%Fe alloy were investigated by measuring the residual resistivity after up-quenching and down-quenching, over a suitable temperature interval, so as to introduce various initial vacancy concentrations and mobilities. Also, resistivity variations in all of the alloys were measured during the isochronal annealing of mechanically deformed and recrystallized samples. By assuming a particular model for the short-range order relaxation kinetics, the migration and formation enthalpies of vacancies, as well as the vacancy sink (dislocation) densities, were deduced from the results. It was noted that, for studying short-range order kinetics under equilibrium vacancy conditions, a mechanically deformed microstructure was preferable to a completely recrystallized one. It was found that the sum of the migration and formation energies agreed well with the total short-range order activation enthalpies. Finally, it was observed that the vacancy activation enthalpy went through a minimum at about 10at%Fe.

M.Migschitz, W.Pfeiler: Materials Science and Engineering A, 1996, 206[2], 155-62