The paper describes an experimental procedure for carrying out high tempera
ture diffusion studies involving liquid phase. The method has been successf
ully demonstrated for studying diffusion in binary refractory alloys in Hf-
Mo, Zr-Mo, Cr-Nb, Cr-Ta and Th-Re systems at temperatures between 1930 K an
d 2360 K. The present method provides diffusion data for both solid solutio
ns and the intermediate phases present in each of these systems. The paper
reports the tracer diffusion coefficients for Hf and Zr in Mo and Cr in Nh
and Ta at infinite dilution without using radio tracers. The values of inte
rdiffusion coefficients using both concentration gradient and chemical pote
ntial gradient as the driving force have been determined. The advantages in
using interdiffusion coefficient with chemical potential gradient as the d
riving force particularly in the intermediate phases are discussed. (C) 200
0 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.