Diffusion behaviors and atomic mobilities in Mg–Sc hcp and bcc alloys: Investigation via single-phase and multi-phase diffusion couples

Abstract Diffusion behaviors in Mg–Sc hcp and bcc solid solutions between 773 and 873 K were investigated using both single-phase and multi-phase diffusion couple techniques. The EPMA detected composition-distance profiles were smoothed and fitted using the error function expansion (ERFEX). The interdiffusion coefficients were extracted using Sauer–Freise integral. The interdiffusion coefficients in hcp phase showed a slightly parabolic composition dependence at the Mg-rich part and the maximum value was around 2–3 at. % Sc. However, the interdiffusion coefficients in the bcc phase monotonously decreased with the increase of solubility of Sc. The determined inter- and impurity diffusion coefficients in the hcp Mg–Sc alloys were assessed to develop the atomic mobility database, and their validity was justified by reproducing the composition profiles and diffusion fluxes obtained in this diffusion couple experiment. Meanwhile, the development of bcc atomic mobility was realized via the Maclaurin approximation, extrapolation, and optimization. The results make up for the missing data of Mg–Sc diffusion kinetics.