REACTION DIFFUSION IN THE ZIRCONIUM IRON SYSTEM

Reaction diffusion in the zirconium-iron system has been investigated in the temperature range 973 to 1213 K using diffusion couples of pure zirconium and pure iron. Electron microprobe analysis and metallographic techniques have been employed to investigate the formation of compounds in the diffusion zone. The Boltzmann-Matano-Heumann method and Wagner's method have been used to evaluate the interdiffusion coefficients. The temperature dependence of this diffusion coefficient has been established. The activation energy for interdiffusion in FeZr3 compound is found to be 120.0 kJ/mol. The formation of compounds and their stability in the diffusion zone have been discussed on the basis of existing thermodynamic and other physical properties.