The Isotope Exchange Method for Measuring Saturated Vapor Pressure and Diffusion coefficients - USSR -

The interest displayed recently in the measurements of saturated steam pressures and diffusion coefficients D by means of isotope exchange is not accidental, since this exchange is the only convenient method which permits the determination of the buoyancy of the saturated vapors of alloys where the concentration of a component during the experiment should remain constant. This method permits, at the same time, the determination of the other, not less important characteristic of the metal or alloy, its diffusion coefficient. This fact, namely that the surface layer of a specific thickness participates directly in the exchange permits the estimation of some surface properties of the given substance if the appropriate equations are solved. The availability of convenient radioactive isotopes of almost all elements of the periodic table makes this method universally applicable to the practical study of any substance in its condensed state.