Liquid/solid (Zn/Cu) interface diffusion experiments in high magnetic fields (up to 12T) were conducted and the thickness changes of diffusion layer under different magnetic field conditions were examined. It was found that there were no noticeable effects of high magnetic fields upon the formation of intermetallic phases at the interface. However, the magnetic flux density exerted a non-linear influence upon the diffusion layer thickness. This phenomenon should be attributed to the effect of magnetic fields suppressing natural convection and inducing thermo-electromagnetic convection. In addition, the diffusion of Zn into Cu could be retarded by a magnetic field gradient. These results indicated that both the strength and the gradient of high magnetic fields could be used to control the diffusion behavior.

Diffusion Layer Growth at Zn/Cu Interface under Uniform and Gradient High Magnetic Fields. D.Li, Q.Wang, G.Li, X.Lv, K.Nakajima, J.He: Materials Science and Engineering A, 2008, 495[1-2], 244-8

Table 4

Grain-Boundary Diffusion of Cr in α-Zr (Type-B Kinetics)