On the Relation between Interdiffusion and Tracer Diffusion Coefficients in Ternary Solid Solutions

Abstract

This article is meant as a warning message for those scientists who are working in the area of ternary diffusion. This thorough experimental study has shown the large errors that arise when the four interdiffusion coefficients are calculated from crossing diffusion paths. Even larger is the scatter in values of the tracer diffusion coefficients derived from these interdiffusion coefficient. The practical value of these coefficients is probably low. The effects of theoretical improvements, like taking into account the vacancy wind, cannot be verified because of this large scatter in the experimental values.