The diffusivities of Sn, Mo, Zr and Hf in liquid Ti were determined via the pulsed ion-beam melting of thin liquid layers. Time-resolved optical reflectance and 1-dimensional heat-flow simulations were used to determine the melt duration. The broadening of near-Gaussian solute concentration-versus-depth profiles was determined ex situ by using Rutherford back-scattering spectrometry. Solute diffusivities in the range of 5 x 10-5 to 9 x 10-5cm2/s were found at 2200 to 2500K. Calculations of buoyancy and Marangoni convection indicated that convective effects were unlikely.

Liquid Titanium Solute Diffusion Measured by Pulsed Ion-Beam Melting. P.G.Sanders, M.O.Thompson, T.J.Renk, M.J.Aziz: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 2001, 32[12], 2969-74