Since 1975 a so-called anomalous mass-transfer in metals and alloys under pulse loading is being investigated in the Institute of Metal Physics. This phenomenon remains to be a challenge to theoreticians. Besides, one more phenomenon (observed at the same systems) was discovered – formation of metastable alloys (solutions, and, sometimes, ordered phases), with solubility limits far exceeding the equilibrium values and depending on the deformation rate. Since formation of nonequilibrium phases is also typical for alloys under irradiation, it seemed natural for us to use some of concepts and models invented in the “materials under irradiation” community. We propose 3 types of models for description of metastable solid solution formation in diffusion couple under pulse loading: 1) flux balance for both components at the interface with account of non-equilibrium defects generated during pulse loading; 2) “ballistic jump” concept, which had been invented by George Martin et al. for materials under irradiation or ball-milling, combined with another Martin’s kinetic model (1994) of diffusion; 3) modification of such a concept for the case of non-equilibrium interstitial defects. Non-equilibrium phase diagrams obtained by all 3 models are built and compared with experimental data which reflect a qualitative correspondence to one another.
Read full abstract