Abstract
A transfer-matrix method (TMM) is presented for the development of concentration and flux profiles in multicomponent diffusion involving any numbern of components. From interdiffusion fluxes or concentration gradients available at an initial positionx s, the authors derive expressions for the transfer matrix and its integral so that the concentrations or interdiffusion fluxes of the components can be obtained at any coordinatex. The TMM requires data for interdiffusion coefficients, which are obtained as average values over selected regions by the method of moments developed by Dayananda. Expressions for the concentrations are also obtained from initial conditions on the fluxes or the concentration gradients. The method is also applicable to the case when all the concentrations are known at two ends of a region over which the diffusion coefficients are considered constant. The integration of the fluxes over time, or over the coordinatex, can be evaluated using the transfer-matrix approach, provided the value of the interdiffusion flux is given at a given coordinate. The TMM is applicable to any number of components and can be regarded as a compact generalization of the solutions available for ternary diffusion couples with constant interdiffusion coefficients. An application of the method is illustrated with the experimental data for a ternary Cu-Ni-Zn diffusion couple, and the results are compared with those based on the Fujita-Gosting solution.
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Ram-Mohan, L.R., Dayananda, M.A. A transfer-matrix method for analysis of multicomponent diffusion with any number of components. JPED 27, 566–571 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736557
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736557