Calculations of charge transfer in Nb-17Al and V-50Al alloys, using the Auger parameter

Conventional and high energy X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with Al K-alpha and Cr K-beta radiation, respectively, were used to calculate the Auger parameters of the elements in the V-50 at% Al and Nb-17 at% Al alloys. The shifts of the Auger parameters of the elements of interest between unalloyed and alloyed conditions were used to calculate values of charge transfer occurring upon alloying. The results were related to thermodynamic predictions and the microstructures of the two alloys. The ordering tendency in the Nb-17 at% Al alloy, shown by thermodynamic modelling and the microstructural studies, was attributed to substantial electron transfer from Al to Nb. The small charge transfer from Al to V in the V-50 at% Al alloy was attributed to the lack of ordering in this alloy. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.