The migration rates were determined by using a Rutherford α-particle back-scattering method. It was found that the resultant diffusion data obeyed:

quenched:     D (cm2/s) = 9.4 x 10-1 exp[-2.04(eV)/kT]

relaxed:     D (cm2/s) = 1.9 x 100 exp[-2.09(eV)/kT]

annealed:     D (cm2/s) = 1.6 x 100 exp[-2.07(eV)/kT]

The diffusivities of the devitrified alloy lay on the same Arrhenius plot as that for the amorphous material. Pre-annealing had no appreciable effect upon the diffusivity or activation energy. The rate of diffusion of the Au atoms was up to 3 orders of magnitude lower than the diffusion rate of a metalloid atom in the same glass at the same temperature. For a given temperature, the diffusion rate decreased with increasing glass transition temperature. On the other hand, at a given fraction of the glass transition temperature, the diffusion rate increased with increasing transition temperature.

D.Akhtar, B.Cantor, R.W.Cahn: Acta Metallurgica, 1982, 30[8], 1571-7