The intrinsic diffusivities in multi component systems

•Calculation of the intrinsic diffusion coefficients.•Generalization of the Boltzmann–Matano analysis.•Estimation of the unique diffusivities in multicomponent systems.

The complete understanding of the phenomenological process related to the position of the Matano and Kirkendall plane in multicomponent system is still lacking. In this paper some aspects of Matano and lattice plane migration are studied by means of numerical simulations. New approach to calculate intrinsic diffusion coefficients in binary Ni–Au system and ternary Cu–Fe–Ni and Co–Fe–Ni is presented. Diffusivities were calculated using modified Boltzmann–Matano method. Self diffusion coefficients of the elements in diffusion couple must be known as well as position of the Kirkendall plane after the experiment to use this method. Diffusion profile was calculated using presented equations. Calculations compared with experimental data prove validity of the presented approach. This work proves that intrinsic diffusion coefficients should be given by the concentration function, not the exact value.