Intermetallics Disappearance Rate Analysis in Double Multiphase Systems

Electric corrosion of aluminium and copper is investigated experimentally. It is found that the electric corrosion of copper is higher than the electric corrosion of aluminium. It is also clarified that the intrinsic diffusion coefficient of Cu is higher than the intrinsic diffusion coefficient of Al in each phase, so inert markers move to Cu. Copper has a higher electric conductivity, higher thermal conduction, and lower material cost than gold, so it is possible to use Cu instead of Au for wire bonding in microelectronics packaging, because the thin Al pad (1.2 μm thickness) can prevent gold and copper corrosion. Intermetallics disappearance and Kirkendall shift rates calculation methods are proposed. Methods involve mass conservation law and concentration profiles change during mutual diffusion. Intermetallics disappearance and Kirkendall shift rates in Al-Cu (Al is thin layer on Cu), Cu-Al (Cu is thin layer on Al), Al-Au, Zn-Cu, and Cu-Sn systems are analyzed theoretically using literature experimental data. Diffusion activation energies and pre-exponential coefficients for Cu-Sn system were calculated combining literature experimental results.

Numerical Determination of Intrinsic Diffusion Coefficient of Aluminide Coatings on Metals

This paper presents a numerical method to determine the composition dependent diffusivities and to predict the concentration profile during the interdiffusion process. The intrinsic diffusion coefficients in diffusion aluminide coatings (Fe-Al) were determined at 1000oC. The obtained diffusion coefficient for iron in Fe3Al or FeAl is in the range 10-10 to 10-9 cm2.s-1. The aluminum diffusion coefficient varies from 10-11 to 10-7 cm2.s-1 in the same phases.The present approach also permits to model the reactive diffusion in the Fe-Al systems.

The Diffusion of Radionuclides through Waste Encapsulation Grouts

ABSTRACTUnited Kingdom Nirex Limited develops and advises on safe, environmentally sound and publicly acceptable options for the long-term management of radioactive waste. One option Nirex has developed is a phased geological repository concept for intermediate level waste and some low level wastes that makes use of a combination of engineered and natural barriers. Physical containment of radionuclides would be achieved by immobilisation and packaging of wastes (mostly) in stainless steel containers.Existing models of the migration of dissolved radionuclides from packaged wastes suggest that radionuclide release is determined largely by the rate of diffusion through the encapsulation grout used to immobilise the waste. The use of such models requires diffusion coefficient data for radionuclides in waste encapsulation grouts. This paper describes a programme of through-diffusion experiments, and modelling interpretation, aimed at deriving diffusion coefficients for some radionuclides in two types of encapsulation grout.An intrinsic diffusion coefficient of HTO of around 1×10−13 to 2×10−13 m2s−1 was determined for a 3:1 mix of blast furnace slag to ordinary Portland cement, compared to around 4×10−13 to 5×10−13 m2s−1 for a 3:1 mix of pulverised fuel ash to ordinary Portland cement. These values are lower than that assumed for a non-sorbing radionuclide in an earlier modelling exercise. Porosity values around 0.3 were obtained in each case. For 36Cl as chloride, the experiments showed no significant breakthrough over the experimental timescale of about one year, suggesting an intrinsic diffusion coefficient below 5×10−13 m2s−1. One possibility is that chlorine-containing solids are precipitating in the cement. An intrinsic diffusion coefficient for 137Cs in the 3:1 mix of pulverised fuel ash to ordinary Portland cement of 4×10−15 m2s−1 was estimated, significantly lower than that determined for HTO.The results from three of the sixteen experiments could not be fitted with a simple diffusion model, and for a further five experiments there was some doubt as to whether simple diffusion behaviour had been observed. It is suggested that this may have been due to cracks in the grouts that were sufficiently large to affect the diffusion properties of the grouts, although none was visible to the naked eye. Cracking of the waste encapsulation grouts could provide a mechanism for enhanced migration of radionuclides from waste packages, compared with diffusion in a homogeneous porous medium alone.

Self-Diffusion in Intrinsic and Extrinsic Silicon Using Isotopically Pure 30Silicon Layer

ABSTRACTSilicon self–diffusion coefficients were measured in intrinsic and extrinsic silicon from870 to 1070°C using isotopically pure 30Si layer. 30Si diffusion profiles are determined by secondary ion mass spectrometry. The temperature dependence of intrinsic diffusion coefficient in bulk Si isobtained. Comparing it in heavily As-doped or B-doped Si, it is found that Si self-diffusion is entirely mediated by interstitialcy mechanism at lower temperatures below 870°C.