Diffusion of 57Co in amorphous Fe–RE (RE = Dy, Tb, and Ce) and Fe–Si–B alloys

Abstract

Tracer diffusion of 57Co in amorphous Fe100−xDyx (x = 20–40), Fe75Tb25, Fe67Ce33, and Fe80Si6B14 alloys prepared by dc sputtering has been studied at temperatures of 523 and 573 K. In the Fe–Dy alloys the diffusion coefficient of 57Co shows a maximum at 33 at.% Dy. The magnitude of the diffusion coefficient of 57Co in Fe75Tb25 is nearly equal to that in Fe75Dy25, while those in Fe67Ce33 and Fe80Si6B14 are about one order of magnitude less than the values in Fe67Dy33 and Fe80Dy20. This suggests that the atomic size of the diffusant and the density of the matrix are dominant in the diffusion. Temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient D of 57Co in the amorphous Fe75Dy25 alloy has been determined in the range from 493–673 K. It shows a linear Arrhenius relationship expressed by D = 5.7 × 10−2 exp(−199 kJ mol−1/RT) m2 s−1. The magnitudes of the pre-exponential factor and the activation energy suggest that the cobalt tracer atoms in the amorphous Fe75Dy25 alloy diffuse by an interstitial-like mechanism.