Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
The use of metallic multilayers for diffusion measurements is reviewed. Experiments on epitaxial Ag/Au multilayers show that microstructural evolution can affect the measurements, but that nonetheless accurate determinations of lattice interdiffusivity can be made down to exceptionally low temperatures. Experiments on amorphous Ni-Zr multilayers show that with diffusional symmetry there can significant diffusion-induced stresses. Analysis of the interdiffusion kinetics as influenced by stress permits the determination of a range of materials parameters, including the diffusivities of individual species and plastic flow behaviour.