Silver Self-Diffusion in Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/QE22 Magnesium Alloy Matrix Composite

Abstract

Self-diffusion of 110mAg has been investigated in fiber reinforced QE22 magnesium alloy matrix composite. Short Saffil fibers (97% -Al2O3 + 3% SiO2) were used as reinforcement. The diffusion measurements were carried out in the temperature interval 648 – 728 K by serial sectioning method. The volume diffusion coefficients Dv (alloy without reinforcement) and the effective diffusion coefficients Deff (alloy with reinforcement) were obtained by analysis of the penetration curves. The silver diffusion coefficient in the interface boundary matrix/Saffil Di was also estimated. The temperature dependence of volume diffusion coefficients Dv was compared with previous data measured using 65Zn in the same alloy and with literature data for Zn impurity diffusion in Mg single crystal. It was observed, that the temperature dependence of both Deff and Di was significantly non-linear in the measured temperature interval. This behavior supports previous observations with zinc diffusion in the same alloy.