The first systematic investigation was made here of the pressure and orientation dependences of grain boundary diffusion. The diffusion of Zn was measured at 553K, in the B-kinetic regime, using various sets of bicrystals and pressures of up to 1.2GPa. Symmetrical <001>, <011> and <111> tilt boundaries were studied (tables 1 to 3), with tilt angles that corresponded to a low coincidence lattice-site parameter. The Zn depth profiles were measured by means of electron probe micro-analysis, and were analyzed by using the Whipple equation. The orientation dependence of the diffusivity went through minima, for the high-coincidence grain boundaries, under all of the applied pressures. The activation volume ranged from 26 to 47% of the atomic volume of Al, and exhibited slight maxima for the high-coincidence grain boundaries.

Diffusion of Zn along Tilt Grain Boundaries in Al - Pressure and Orientation Dependence. P.Klugkist, A.N.Aleshin, W.Lojkowski, L.S.Shvindlerman, W.Gust, E.J.Mittemeijer: Acta Materialia, 2001, 49[15], 2941-9

 

Table 1

Triple Product at 553K for Zn Diffusion through Tilt Grain Boundaries in Al

Tilt Axis: <001>

 

Tilt Angle (º)

Pressure (MPa)

sδD (m3/s)

33

0.1

1.25 x 10-19

33

0.4

1.39 x 10-19

33

300

1.14 x 10-19

33

600

4.9 x 10-20

33

900

8.8 x 10-20

33

1200

7.4 x 10-20

36

0.1

1.17 x 10-19

36

0.4

1.03 x 10-19

36

300

1.12 x 10-19

36

900

5.2 x 10-20

36

1200

4.4 x 10-20

36.8

0.1

8.1 x 10-20

36.8

0.4

8.0 x 10-20

36.8

300

7.5 x 10-20

36.8

600

3.7 x 10-20

36.8

900

4.2 x 10-20

36.8

1200

3.0 x 10-20

39

0.1

8.5 x 10-20

39

0.4

8.5 x 10-20

39

300

7.0 x 10-20

39

600

4.2 x 10-20

39

900

5.0 x 10-20

39

1200

3.2 x 10-20

42.5

0.1

8.7 x 10-20

42.5

0.4

8.2 x 10-20

42.5

300

9.1 x 10-20

42.5

900

4.4 x 10-20

42.5

1200

4.2 x 10-20

 

 

 

Table 2

Triple Product at 553K for Zn Diffusion through Tilt Grain Boundaries in Al

Tilt Axis: <011>

 

Tilt Angle (º)

Pressure (MPa)

sδD (m3/s)

35

0.1

2.1 x 10-20

35

0.4

1.9 x 10-20

35

300

1.8 x 10-20

35

600

1.2 x 10-20

35

900

9.3 x 10-21

35

1200

8.9 x 10-21

38.5

0.1

8.9 x 10-21

38.5

0.4

7.4 x 10-21

38.5

300

7.1 x 10-21

38.5

600

6.6 x 10-21

38.5

900

4.4 x 10-21

38.5

1200

2.4 x 10-21

46

0.1

5.6 x 10-20

46

0.4

6.8 x 10-20

46

300

4.2 x 10-20

46

600

2.2 x 10-20

46

900

2.6 x 10-20

46

1200

2.3 x 10-20

 

 

 

Table 3

Triple Product at 553K for Zn Diffusion through Tilt Grain Boundaries in Al

Tilt Axis: <111>

 

Tilt Angle (º)

Pressure (MPa)

sδD (m3/s)

38

0.1

1.85 x 10-20

38

0.4

1.9 x 10-20

38

600

9.4 x 10-21

38

1200

5.5 x 10-21

39

0.1

2.35 x 10-20

39

0.4

3.3 x 10-20

39

300

1.3 x 10-20

39

600

1.3 x 10-20

39

900

1.1 x 10-20

39

1200

1.1 x 10-20

43

0.1

2.15 x 10-20

43

0.4

3.41 x 10-20

43

300

1.7 x 10-20

43

600

1.8 x 10-20

43

900

1.8 x 10-20

43

1200

8.6 x 10-21