Self-diffusion in austenitic Fe-Cr-Ni alloys

Abstract
The simultaneous lattice diffusion of 59Fe, 51Cr and 57Ni tracers has been measured in the alloys Fe-15Cr-20Ni, Fe-15Cr-45Ni, Fe-22Cr-45Ni and Fe-15Cr-20Ni-1.4Si between 960 and 1400 degrees C. In all four alloys at all temperatures, DCr>DFe>DNi, with DCr/DNi approximately=2.5 and DFe/DNi approximately=1.8. The activation enthalpies for diffusion of the major constituents in any one alloy are quite close to each other. No correlation is found between swelling under irradiation and the diffusion behaviour of the major constituents. The results are discussed on the basis of the random-alloy model. Grain-boundary diffusion is found in these alloys at surprisingly high temperatures.