Abstract
The extents of grain-boundary diffusion of mercury into 70/30 brass and of 3% Zn amalgam into aluminium were evaluated by a simple tensile-test. Without knowing the penetration depth, the data on the diffusion-treated specimens can be analyzed by the equation
(Remark: Graphics omitted.)
where ΔF is the difference in fracture load before and after the diffusion treatment, F0 is the fracture load before the treatment, a and b are the breadth and thickness of the specimen, k is the parameter for the diffusion path, D is the diffusion coefficient, and t is the contact time. The diffusion equations obtained are as follows:
(Remark: Graphics omitted.)
The diffusion rate at room temperature, assessed from the results at elevated temperatures, is extremely small and the role of diffusion in the degree of embrittlement is not significant in these systems.
