Effect of Sb on coarsening of Fe particles in a Cu-Fe alloy

The influence of Sb on the coarsening behaviour of spherical α-Fe and γ-Fe particles in a Cu?Fe alloy has been investigated. The size of thparticles was determined by transmission electron microscopy and the Fe concentration in the Cu matrix by electric resistivity measurements. Adding Sb decreases the coarsening rate of the Fe particles, primarily via a reduction in the volume diffusivity of Fe in Cu. The pre-exponential factor and activation energy for volume diffusion are increased by the addition of Sb atoms in the matrix. The Sb addition changes the incoherent α-Fe?Cu interface energy by segregation of Sb at the incoherent interfaces but not the coherent γ-Fe?Cu interface energy.