In order to study self-diffusion in liquid interfaces, 59Fe tracer diffusion was measured on ultrafine-grained material; which underwent an intergranular melting transition for a low Nd excess. The diffusion coefficient in the intergranular liquid layers was found to be lower than in bulk melts; thus indicating a hampered atomic mobility due to confinement. Diffusivity in the liquid interfaces, well above the intergranular melting transition, approached a value which was characteristic of bulk melts.

Self-Diffusion in Liquid Interfaces. S.Herth, F.Ye, M.Eggersmann, O.Gutfleisch, R.Wurschum: Physical Review Letters, 2004, 92[9], 095901 (4pp)