Ordering kinetics in bcc alloys with allowance for diffusion processes

The kinetics of inhomogeneous ordering in binary bcc substitution alloys of arbitrary stoichiometry is considered with the account for for diffusion processes. A system of kinetic equations describing the joint evolution of the occupancies of two sublattices of a bcc lattice is derived using a phenomenological approach. It is shown that, even within the mean-field approximation, this approach allows one to describe simultaneously the processes of establishment of the long-range order and diffusion of the alloy components. Numerical analysis of the obtained system of equations showed that quick onset of long-range order first occurs, which is followed by slow diffusion of the alloy components. © Allerton Press, Inc. 2008.