SELF-DIFFUSION AND IMPURITY DIFFUSION IN ZIRCONIUM-MANGANESE ALLOYS

Self- and impurity diffusion in Zr-Mn alloys (Mn∼0–2 at. %) have been studied using the sectioning method in the temperature range 1173–1473 K. With an increase of the Mn content in the alloys, the diffusion parameters (D0 and Q) for 95Zr diffusion in these alloys varies from 0·31 × 10−8 to 3·36 × 10−8 m2/s and 105·25 to 125·34 KJ/mole, respectively, while for 54Mn diffusion, they vary from 5·38 × 10−7 to 0·08 × 10−7 m2/s and 140·65 to 104·62 KJ/mole. Thus the addition of manganese to zirconium results in the enhancement of self-diffusivities while retarding impurity diffusion. The impurity correlation factor calculated using Le Claire's model for body-centred-cubic crystal is 0·42. The results are consistent with a vacancy mechanism of diffusion. © 1979 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.