The generalization of the Boltzmann–Matano method

The phenomenological Boltzmann–Matano (B–M) analysis allows approximating the concentration dependent interdiffusion coefficients related to infinite binary diffusion couple experiments. However, the complete understanding of the phenomenological process related to the Kirkendall plane position coupled with the B–M method is still lacking. A purpose of the present study is to generalize the Boltzmann–Matano analysis and propose a method of estimating the unique intrinsic diffusion coefficients of components from the experimental concentration profile and the positions of Matano and Kirkendall planes in multicomponent systems. The proposed physico-chemical approach is used to approximate the intrinsic diffusivities in a single phase of Ni–Pd binary and Cu–Fe–Ni ternary diffusion couples.