Analysis of isochronal calorimetric measurements of point defect elimination in a quenched Co₄₈Ga₅₂ intermetallic compound

Abstract

In the intermetallic compound Co₄₈Ga₅₂, high vacancy supersaturations have been produced by quenching from 900°C. Differential scanning calorimetry performed on quenched samples has revealed one annealing stage at about 550°C. An accurate method for the determination of the activation energy from anisothermal calorimetric data is presented. The results are discussed and it is suggested that the stage observed is due to the annealing out of quenched-in monovacancies by the formation of clusters.