Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The discovery and acceptance of the Kirkendall Effect: The result of a short research career

  • Features
  • Historigal Insight
  • Published:
JOM Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the 1940s, it was a common belief that atomic diffusion took place via a direct exchange or ring mechanism that indicated the equality of diffusion of binary elements in metals and alloys. However, Ernest Kirkendall first observed inequality in the diffusion of copper and zinc in interdiffusion between brass and copper. This article reports how Kirkendall discovered the effect, now known as the Kirkendall Effect, in his short research career.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. W.C. Roberts-Austen,Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A187 (1896), pp. 383–415.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. E. Kirkendall, L. Thomassen, and C. Upthegrove, “Rates of Diffusion of Copper and Zinc in Alpha Brass,”Trans. AIME, 133 (1939), pp. 186–203.

    Google Scholar 

  3. E.O. Kirkendall, “Diffusion of Zinc in Alpha Brass,”Trans. AIME, 147 (1942), pp. 104–110.

    Google Scholar 

  4. A.D. Smigelskas and E.O. Kirkendall, “Zinc Diffusion in Alpha Brass,”Trans. AIME, 171 (1947), pp. 130–142.

    Google Scholar 

  5. C.H. Desch,Repts. Brit. Assn. for Advancement of Sci., 82 (1912), pp. 348–372.

    Google Scholar 

  6. R.F. Mehl,Trans. AIME, 122 (1936), pp. 11–56.

    Google Scholar 

  7. A.I. Krynitsky,Metals and Alloys, 8 (1937), pp. 138–144; 173–179; 261.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. H.B. Huntington and F. Seitz,Phys. Rev., 61 (1942), pp. 315–325.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Atom Movements (Metals Park, Ohio: ASM, 1951).

  10. L.C.C. daSilva and R.F. Mehl,Trans. AIME, 191 (1951), pp. 155–173.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research at Osaka University, Osaka, Japan

    Hideo Nakajima (professor)

Authors
  1. Hideo Nakajima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Editor's Note: A hypertext-enhanced version of this article can be found at http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9706/Nakajima-9706.html. Also some of the artwork employed here was photographically reproduced from existing publications. As a result, the quality of the images is sometimes less than ideal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nakajima, H. The discovery and acceptance of the Kirkendall Effect: The result of a short research career. JOM 49, 15–19 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02914706

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02914706

Keywords

Search

Navigation