Transition from internal to external oxidation in indium-silver alloys

Abstract

The kinetics of oxidation of In-Ag alloys of 5,10, and 15 at. % indium have been studied on a vacuum microbalance. The 15 at. % indium alloy oxidizes externally and the 5 at. % alloy internally. A plot of logarithm of the parabolic oxidation rate, k_p, versus reciprocal of the absolute temperature for 10 at. % indium alloy gives two intersecting straight lines corresponding to the energies of activation of 23 and 39.6 kcal/mole for the oxidation below and above 600°C respectively. These are comparable to the energies of activation of 23 kcal/mole for the internal oxidation of 5 at. % indium alloy and 40 kcal/mole for the external oxidation of 15 at. % indium alloy. The rate-controlling step in the external oxidation of 15 at. % indium alloy is the diffusion of indium through the alloy. Photomicrographs of the cross sections of the oxidized foils of these alloys confirm the conclusions derived from the kinetic data.