The thermodynamic factor in interdiffusion: A strong effect in amorphous Ni-Zr

Abstract Simultaneous determinations of the interdiffusivity in amorphous Ni-Zr and of the self-diffusivity of Ni in the same phase permit the determination of the thermodynamic enhancement factor for interdiffusion. Using thin compositionally graded films containing an initially thin layer enriched in 62 Ni, the evolution on annealing of the composition profile was determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and that of the 62 Ni profile by secondary ion mass spectrometry. The effective thermodynamic factor in a-Ni 57 Zr 43 at 623 K is found to be 33 ± 8 in the first hour of annealing of an as-deposited film, decreasing on prolonged annealing. This factor, larger than any previously reported, is somewhat in excess of the value expected from the Darken analysis, but does not deviate markedly as has been suggested by recent calculations questioning the validity of the mean-field approach in that analysis.