The diffusion-controlled growth of multiple compound phases was studied, with inclusion of the non-linear Kirkendall effect. In previous analyses of the growth of a single compound layer, the non-linear time-dependent diffusion equation with 2 free boundaries had been reduced (by a self-similar transformation) to an ordinary differential equation which was then solved numerically by using a shooting method. That analysis was extended here to an arbitrary number of layers. The method of extracting intrinsic diffusion coefficients from the positions of interfaces alone was expanded to 2 layers. In addition, the asymptotic solution valid for small concentration gradients was applied to the multi-foil method of measuring intrinsic diffusion coefficients and yielded an analytical expression for the displacement curve. It was found that 2 vertex positions of the triangular displacement curve were sufficient to calculate the intrinsic diffusion coefficients.Self-Similar Growth of Multiple Compound Layers in Binary Diffusion Couples with Application to the Multi-Foil Method. W.Kan, H.Wong: Acta Materialia, 2002, 50[15], 3831-44

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